ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has suggested amendment to the Customs Act,1969 Section 155H and proposed two new clauses after the existing clause (c) in budget 2016-17. The FBR has given a justification that Section 155H relates to confidential information. This is quite restrictive.
The Customs administration has already signed bilateral mutual cooperation agreements with other Customs administrations where data exchange through EDI or otherwise have been agreed. This needs to be provided legal cover.
herefore, Section 155H is suggested to be amended with the addition of new two clauses d and e. suggested D clause proposed that sharing of data electronically or through other medium to the extent of agreed data contents under bilateral or multilateral agreements or conventions.
New E clause proposed that public dissemination of data at Federal Board of Revenue’s website in the interest of transparency or public interest excluding personal information or personally identifiable information, commercially sensitive information that has financial implications for a taxpayers which can causes economic impact to a taxpaying entity such as invoice details, pricing information, supplier details etc.
