ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is planning to introduce prize scheme through draw against invoices of restaurants submitted by customers.
According to sources of FBR, the plan was under consideration after identification of huge tax evasion by restaurants in Islamabad Capital Territory.
The sources said that the FBR would announce different prizes through a draw of invoices. The purpose of this prize scheme is to encourage people to take their invoices for food purchased from restaurants and hotels.
Few months back the FBR installed Restaurants Information Management System (RIMS) at top restaurants and hotels located in Islamabad to monitor their sales for collection of sales tax on services.
The RIMS is installed at the restaurants and directly connected with FBR online system for real-time data sharing of sales invoices.
However, it was identified that the most of the restaurants were found in suppressing sales through switching off the online system. The FBR sources said that it was detected that the restaurants were declaring less than half of their sales. The FBR has launched penal action against non-compliant restaurants.
On the other side the owners of restaurants and hotels had announced shut down protest. However, this protest was called back after discussion with State Minister Hammad Azhar a day earlier.
The owners of hotels and restaurants would again hold talks with FBR officials today to resolve the matter.
