ISLAMABAD: Being non-resident Pakistanis, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz are not bound to reply the questions asked by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) about their assets in wake of Panama leaks, it is learnt.
This is the content of the replies filed by both brothers following the notices of the FBR. They also made it clear that they earned all assets while living abroad and paid taxes in the UK, adding that all their assets have been earned legally, sources said.
The sources also explained that clause ‘A’ of Article 82, Division II, Central Concept Part-I, Chapter V of Income Tax Ordinance clarifies about resident and non-resident Pakistanis under which a person who stays more than 183 days in Pakistan during a tax year will file tax return. They added that PM’s sons fell into category of non-resident.
Earlier, this limit was 182 days that was enhanced through amendment to Finance Act, 2006, they informed, adding that the federal and provincial employees those remain in foreign countries at their posting during tax year also consider non-resident under clause ‘c’ of Article 82 and they are not bound to file returns in Pakistan.
Clause ‘B’ of Article 82 was removed in Finance Bill, 2003 under which the limit for non-residents was 90 days that was increased to 180.
The sources said that tax laws did not define about the investigations against the assets hold by non-resident Pakistan, adding that the FBR could not investigate the assets and wealth owned by PM’s sons.
