ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has strongly rebutted disinformation being spread on the social media against the proposed service charge of Re1 to be collected on all invoices issued by Tier-1 retailers integrated with FBR’s electronic system of real-time reporting of sales.

It is being insinuated as if the rate of the Service Charge is one percent instead of Rupee 1 per invoice only. This baseless propaganda by some vested interests is thoroughly malicious in intent and definitely suspicious in content. The nominal Service Charge @ Re.1 per invoice of whatever denomination would be collected under Section 76 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

This petty amount will be utilized to ensure integration of all Tier-1 retailers, promote ongoing publicity campaign, and finance a prize scheme for all customers who duly verify their invoices to determine the validity and genuineness of the invoices issued by the integrated Tier-1 retailers, FBR further clarified.

It is pertinent to mention that FBR has already launched an aggressive awareness campaign on all the mainstream social, electronic & print media to educate general public on a prize scheme ballot worth Rs53 million to be held every month in FBR Headquarters, Islamabad. This first computer ballot on POS Prize Scheme will be held on January 15, 2022, announcing 1007 lucky winners.

Hence, the above unfounded campaign appears to have been initiated by those vested interests who tend to oppose POS integration. They continue to collect Sales Tax from the general public but are always reluctant to deposit the same in the Government Treasury. FBR has reaffirmed its unflinching resolve to continue integrating Tier-1 retailers across the country with full vigour and an indomitable spirit.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021