ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) may miss deadline of August 31, 2020 set by the National Tax Council (NTC) for formal launching of a single sales tax return system for the taxpayers registered with the FBR and provincial revenue authorities.

Sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that the issue of single sales tax return form for federal and provincial taxpayers was discussed during the last meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Tax Council (NTC) held at the Finance Division. According to the decision of the NTC, the FBR may formally finalize and launch a single return system by August 31, 2020. This deadline of August 31 is expected to be extended for launching of this new system for the taxpayers in FBR and provinces.

Sources said that the FBR in consultation with the provinces is making necessary arrangements to formally launch a single sales tax return system for the taxpayers registered with the FBR and provincial revenue boards/authorities.

An official on the condition of anonymity said that the operationalization of the system/single portal may take another few months, he added.

According to the sources, the agenda item of data sharing and clearing house was discussed during the last meeting of the NTC. Senior FBR officials informed the meeting that the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and IT Wing of the FBR are working on the single return format and simplifying return form small businesses as well as real time accessibility across the board. Provinces may share their comments with the FBR. A head of a provincial revenue authority suggested that the FBR may start single portal/single return filing in banking, telecom and insurance sectors.

The Additional Finance Secretary (AFS) emphasized up the FBR should expedite the formal launching of the single return system. It was decided in the last meeting of the NTC that the FBR may formally finalize and launch a single return system by August 31, 2020.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020