SIALKOT: A delegation of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) led by SCCI President Maj (r) Mansur Ahmed held an important meeting with the visiting Federal Board of Revenue Member (IR Operations) Dr Muhammad Irshad, and discussed in details the matters of mutual interest relating to export industry of Sialkot.
During the meeting, The SCCI president especially highlighted the issues of clearance of outstanding sales tax refund cases, adoption of uniform policy of clearance of refunds for textile sector and other export oriented sectors, withdrawal of notices regarding post-refund audit of exporters, empowerment of officers at the Regional Tax Office to resolve registration issues of taxpayers, rationalization of penalty for non-filing of returns and determination thereof as fixed percentage of the tax involved, filling in of vacancy of Commissioner (Appeals) to expedite appeal effect cases and withdrawal of notices regarding non-deposit of 1 percent WHT on exports furnished to the exporters.
On this occasion , Dr. Muhammad Irshad said that all demands of the business community were legitimate. He said that the pendency of sales tax refunds was a national level issue and a policy was expected within a month whereby backlog of the refund cases would be cleared.
He assured the Sialkot exporters that the proposal of uniform policy would be given due consideration at next allocation of budget for payment of refunds. He said that post refund audit was a policy decision and exporters should cooperate in the conduct of the audit.
Replying to a question, he added that the officers at Regional Tax Office have been empowered to resolve registration issues locally.
He also assured that the proposal of rationalization of penalties would be given due consideration, besides, ensuring the early notification of make shift arrangements to fill the vacancy of Commissioner (Appeals).
He narrated that the matter would be thoroughly probed and if necessary, concerned banks would be issued instructions to reconcile the record.
During the meeting, it was decided that Tax Advisory Committee comprising of representatives of Regional Tax Office (RTO) Sialkot, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Sialkot Tax Bar Association(TBA) would be constituted to resolve tax issues at local level expeditiously.
Sialkot exporters thanked Member (IR Operations), FBR for giving due consideration to the concerns of the business community…#
