ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has amended the Sales Tax Rules to widen the scope of household electrical goods, making it mandatory to affix tax stamps on the newly added items.
According to a notification issued by the FBR, air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and television sets have been brought under the new rules. The rules will also apply to storage batteries.
The notification states that tax stamps will also have to be affixed and activated on imported goods. Imported items will not receive customs clearance without a tax stamp, and the stamp must be installed and activated before clearance.
The FBR said storage batteries supplied to retail and automobile companies would also fall within the ambit of the new rules, although battery parts would not be covered. State-owned enterprises have also been brought under the new rules.
The notification further states that tax stamps will be applied to both the products and their packaging. A licence will be valid for only one specific product, and a licence holder will not be able to track any other product. Licences already issued will also be subject to this restriction.
The FBR has removed the condition that only a company can obtain a licence, meaning any eligible applicant can now apply. Licence holders have also been made responsible for installing and repairing the tax stamp system.
According to the notification, all data from the tracking system will be the property of the Government of Pakistan. When a licence expires, the relevant data and codes will have to be handed over to the FBR.
