KARACHI: Pakistan Customs Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has detected tax evasion to the tune of more than Rs 350 million by various importers on import of tyres, tubes through under-invoicing, it is learnt.
According to sources, the authorities at the PCA Karachi Directorate revealed that the importers imported consignments of tyres, tubes with or without flaps of Indian origin through Customs Appraisement (East), Custom House, Karachi.
In these cases, the assessment has been made as per Valuation Ruling applicable at the time of import. However, in pursuance of an information that the group under invoicing is being carried out, the matter was investigated taking into consideration the official website (www.icegate.gov.in) and named as Ice Gate – e Commerce Portal Central Board of Excise and Customs.
Since the bill of ladings enclosed with the GDs in the online WeBOC system mentions the shipping bills numbers and dates filed with Indian Customs for export of impugned goods to Pakistan, therefore, the containers numbers and FOB value mentioned therein in Indian Rupees after addition of freight element and conversion into US $, retrieved from the aforesaid Indian Official Website, were matched with the corresponding particulars mentioned in the Good Declarations filed in Pakistan which revealed that the container numbers are matched however export price of the goods declared to the Indian Customs is on much higher side, sources added.
It is relevant to add that transaction value is the value, which has been actually paid or payable in terms of section 25 of the Custom Act, 1969, required for computation of custom duty and other taxes. Therefore, the transaction value of the subject imports is the value declared to Indian customs at the time of exports of subject consignments.
In the subject cases, FOB value in Indian rupees as is available on the above mentioned portal is added with freight element as required in pursuance of section 25 sub section 2(a)i, of the Customs Act, 1969, is calculated in US$ and in Pak rupees (PKR) clearly reveals that under invoicing is being made and correct information regarding transaction value has been suppressed by filing Goods Declarations at lower values than the actual transaction value paid by the importers in Pakistan to the exporter in India.
The sources added that the importers have been intimated to pay the short-paid duties and taxes at the earliest.
