Collectorate issued show-cause notices to 12 importers in September 2014, but no hearing has been conducted so far
KARACHI: The Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I has not yet made any further advancement in the legal proceedings in connection with the fabric importers’ case in which 12 importers were allegedly involved in tax evasion of Rs 248 million by taking undue advantage of SRO1125(I)/2011.
According to details, the collectorate issued show-cause notices to the 12 importers in September 2014.
The importers are Al-Mawadah Textile, AI Enterprises, Ahsan Enterprises, Al-Harmain Textile, GM Exports, Hira Exports, Pioneer Textile, Anwar and Sons, Nawaz Enterprises, Sara Corporation, BA Impex and WJK Enterprises.
The Appraisement-West, as a seizing agency, found that some unscrupulous commercial importers have attempted to misuse the concessionary rate of sales tax provided in SRO1125(I)/2011 by obtaining sales tax registration from Inland Revenue under the category of manufacturers despite the fact that those importers did not have the manufacturing facility of their own.
Therefore, the authorities concerned of the Appraisement-West found that the importers of fabric committed an offence of misdeclaration in term of Section 32(1)(2), 32-A, 79(1)(b) and 80 of the Customs Act 1969, Sections 6, 11 and 36 read with the Section 7A of the Sales Tax Act 1990 and Chapter X of the Sales Tax Procedure Rules 2007 vide SRO480(I)/2007 read with SRO1125(I)/2011, amended vide SRO154(I)/2013, SRO504(I)/2013, SRO898(I)/2013 and SRO 154(I)/2013 further read with Section 148 and 161(2) of the Income Tax ordinance, 2001 punishable under clauses (14) and 14(A) of the Section 156(I) of the Customs Act, 1969 read with the Section 33, 34 and 36 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 and Section 148 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
Furthermore, the Appraisement-West forwarded the contravention reports to the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I for further legal action.
The Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I issued show-cause notices to the accused importers in September 2014 and decided to conduct hearings from September 16. However, no hearing has been conducted so far.
