ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has officially reconstituted the Single Portal Committee to streamline and facilitate the filing of sales tax returns by both federal and provincial taxpayers across Pakistan.
According to an official notification issued by the FBR on Wednesday, the restructuring follows a consensus reached among members of the Federal Board of Revenue and the four Provincial Revenue Authorities (PRAs) during the Tax Round Table Meeting held in Islamabad on November 15, 2023. The move also references earlier notifications No. 2878-IR-I/2023 dated October 20, 2023, and No. 3438-IR-I/2023 dated December 21, 2023.
The newly reconstituted committee includes senior representatives from the FBR and all provincial tax authorities as listed below:
Members of the Single Portal Committee
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR):
1. Mr. Aamer Amin Bhatti (IRS – BS-20)
2. Mr. Zain ul Abidin Sahi (IRS – BS-20)
Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA):
• Mr. Salman Zafar, Director IT
Sindh Revenue Board (SRB):
• Mr. Abdul Hameed Memon, Senior Member (Operations-I)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA):
• Mr. Abdur Raziq, Additional Collector, KPRA
Balochistan Revenue Authority (BRA):
1. Mr. Ethesham ul Haq, Member (Ops-II)
2. Mr. Fahad Shabir, Commissioner (Ops-II)
Terms of Reference (TORs) for the Committee
According to the FBR notification, the Terms of Reference (TORs) for the committee include:
a) Reviewing the readiness, operational requirements, and rollout actions necessary for implementing the Single Portal for Sales Tax Return filing across all jurisdictions.
b) The committee may consult or co-opt additional resources from FBR, PRAs, PRAL, or other stakeholders whenever required.
c) The members will address operational matters relating to the Single Return system filed in multiple jurisdictions, including:
• Proposed changes in return forms or calculations via PRAL.
• Enforcement and filing extensions for returns.
• Revisions in submitted returns.
d) The committee will also make recommendations on key areas such as:
• Software development and timelines for PRA return systems.
• Input on common and jurisdiction-specific annexures of the single return portal.
• Amendments in tax laws or rules for uniform filing dates across authorities.
• Data privacy, ownership, and system management of the unified portal.
The Pakistan Raises Revenue Program Office, located at FBR Headquarters, Islamabad, will provide coordination, communication, and logistical support to the committee, including scheduling and facilitating regular meetings as required.
This initiative marks a significant step toward the digital integration of Pakistan’s tax system, aiming to simplify compliance, improve efficiency, and strengthen coordination between federal and provincial tax authorities through a unified online platform.
