KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs 119.3 billion taxes from telecom services’ users during the Fiscal Year 2014-15.
The sources told Customs Today that General Sales Tax (GST) forms the major part of the contribution with Rs 45.8 billion collected by Federal Board of Revenue from telecom sector. A huge sum of Rs 73.5 billion had been paid by the public for using telecom services in terms of custom duties, withholding tax and other taxes in Fiscal Year 2014-15.
While, telecom operators paid Rs 7 billion under various heads such as initial and annual license fee, annual spectrum administrative fee, numbering charges, license application fee, etc, to the regulatory and revenue authorities in period under review.
In Pakistan, the mobile phone customers are paying highest taxes as compared to rest of the world with 53% of the overall taxes, including 19.5% on call and voice services, 14% on withholding tax and now 19.5% on additional service, which was levied by Punjab government on above 2 mpbs speed, hence technically imposing charges on 3G/4G/LTE of telecom services.
