News Paper: Business Recorder
KARACHI (July 23 2010): The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would seek an extension of two months in the contract of Pakistan Customs Computerised System (PaCCS) - an automated Customs clearance system, said the Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmed on Thursday. Addressing members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said the FBR would soon approach the Agility Company - authorised to extend the contract, to get an extension of the PaCCS which would expire on July 31 2010.
The chairman FBR also said the authorities, in its recent review of the PaCCS, concluded that the software has developed some problems and could be bugged from anywhere in the world without leaving a trace behind. The control of the system is not fully known to the authorities in Pakistan and there are some serious complaints against the US-based Agility Company, however he said, all these facts have been forwarded to the federal finance minister who would take a decision whether to continue with the PaCCS or not.
On the establishment of an audit desk at the Regional Tax office in Karachi, Ahmed said the FBR is contemplating on the introduction of an audit and scrutiny desk. He asked the business community to suggest ways to better the move. "We want to do away with the random audit which is a time wasting process", he said.
The chairman FBR assured the business community that an Anomaly Committee would soon be formed. Member Customs Munir Qureshi would head the Anomaly Committee on Customs, while Israr Rauf would head the Anomaly Committee on Revenue said Ahmed.
He suggested the formation of another committee comprising the members of the KCCI and the FBR to resolve the problems of the business community. Regarding the reformed General Sales Tax (GST)/ Value Added Tax (VAT), Ahmed said that negotiations are underway between provinces and the federation, but nothing has been finalised so far in this regard. "We have to take a decision and finalise the issues by mid August this year," he added.
He hoped the issue of imposition and collection of taxes on services would be resolved amicably between the province and the centre. He also dismissed all the rumours regarding a secret plan of the FBR for the imposition of the reformed GST.
Highlighting FBR's collections, Ahmed said the FBR has collected Rs 1,330 billion as revenue during the last fiscal year as compared to the target of Rs, 1,380 billion. The figure may further increase after the finalisation of the collection figure, he added. He also said despite promises by the retailers sector, it is not contributing in the revenue. It is a very big service sector, the chairman FBR said and added that only 40 retailers, in the entire Peshawar region, are paying taxes.
-www.brecorder.com
The chairman FBR also said the authorities, in its recent review of the PaCCS, concluded that the software has developed some problems and could be bugged from anywhere in the world without leaving a trace behind. The control of the system is not fully known to the authorities in Pakistan and there are some serious complaints against the US-based Agility Company, however he said, all these facts have been forwarded to the federal finance minister who would take a decision whether to continue with the PaCCS or not.
On the establishment of an audit desk at the Regional Tax office in Karachi, Ahmed said the FBR is contemplating on the introduction of an audit and scrutiny desk. He asked the business community to suggest ways to better the move. "We want to do away with the random audit which is a time wasting process", he said.
The chairman FBR assured the business community that an Anomaly Committee would soon be formed. Member Customs Munir Qureshi would head the Anomaly Committee on Customs, while Israr Rauf would head the Anomaly Committee on Revenue said Ahmed.
He suggested the formation of another committee comprising the members of the KCCI and the FBR to resolve the problems of the business community. Regarding the reformed General Sales Tax (GST)/ Value Added Tax (VAT), Ahmed said that negotiations are underway between provinces and the federation, but nothing has been finalised so far in this regard. "We have to take a decision and finalise the issues by mid August this year," he added.
He hoped the issue of imposition and collection of taxes on services would be resolved amicably between the province and the centre. He also dismissed all the rumours regarding a secret plan of the FBR for the imposition of the reformed GST.
Highlighting FBR's collections, Ahmed said the FBR has collected Rs 1,330 billion as revenue during the last fiscal year as compared to the target of Rs, 1,380 billion. The figure may further increase after the finalisation of the collection figure, he added. He also said despite promises by the retailers sector, it is not contributing in the revenue. It is a very big service sector, the chairman FBR said and added that only 40 retailers, in the entire Peshawar region, are paying taxes.
-www.brecorder.com
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