MULTAN: All the chambers of commerce and industry are unanimous to bring an end to harassment and SRO culture, simplify taxation system and broaden the tax net to increase revenue. The businessmen are also agreed conditionally to facilitate the Federal Board of Revenue in tax collection.
According to Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) President Khawaja Muhammad Usman, the business community will present a shadow budget for 2014-15 within a month if the Federal Board of Revenue provides complete data of taxpayers within two weeks, adding that if the board failed to provide data then the MCCI would submit tax proposals. Kh Usman said that registration with the General Sales Tax Department was a tiresome practice while de-registration was almost impossible.
The government should make the registration and de-registration easy for the taxpayers and the department should be purged of corrupt, dishonest and cruel officers as well as officials. He suggested that minimum tax on corporate sector must be half percent like 1991 when it was introduced. The MCCI chief said that all the presidents were unanimous to identify the non-filers and non-tax payers if the FBR was serious to take action against them.
He opposed the tax collection by the provincial as well as Federal Government and suggested that one-widow operation be introduced for the collection of GST, Income tax, Central Excise duty, FED, WHT, wealth tax, etc, and collecting agency can distribute these taxes among the provinces. He further said Punjab Revenue Authority is going to introduce a harsh rule under which an inspector can seal the factory if he suggests it necessary. Kh Usman said that FBR Chief Tariq Bajwa assured that the law would be modified and three notices would be served to any would-be tax-evading factory through the concerned chamber.
