KARACHI: The 3-member fact-finding committee comprising MCC Exports Collector Dr Wasif Memon, Additional Director of Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation-Customs Karachi Khalil Yousufani and Additional Director Audit in its report has recommended a complete audit of bank accounts of all customs officials including officers deployed in Vehicle Group (Group-VII) during the period of Vehicle Amnesty Scheme.
According to sources in FBR, the fact-finding committee, constituted by the competent authorities of Federal Board of Revenue to investigate shortfall of Rs 450 million in share of surcharge on importation of vehicles under Amnesty Scheme, has completed its inquiry into the matter.
It may be mentioned here that around 1900 vehicles had been cleared under Amnesty Scheme and a shortfall of Rs 450 million in share of surcharge had been recorded.
FBR, owing to this constituted a 3-member fact finding committee led by MCC Exports Collector Dr Wasif Memon in order to dig out the real facts behind the entire scenario.
Furthermore, FBR asked the committee to file its final recommendations till April 30. However, the committee had failed to submit its report in stipulated time and submitted it on May 4.
The report of fact-finding committee, constituted on inquiring about the shortfall of surcharge in clearance of imported vehicles from June, 2012 to 2013 stated that MCC Appraisement-West and MCC Appraisement-East should raise demand notices against those importers, who were found submitting reduced duty/taxes on clearance of imported vehicles during the tenure of June, 2012 to November, 2013 in Vehicle Amnesty Scheme.
FBR sources informed Customs Today that the collectorates have issued demand notices of Rs 328 million against 1,397 vehicles, while demand notices worth Rs 122 million would be issued against the importers of 503 vehicles.
Complaints have been registered in the office of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) regarding the violation of SRO 144(1)/2012 in clearance of vehicles under the Amnesty Scheme. The complaints stated difference of duties/taxes being charged in clearance of vehicles in Karachi and Peshawar.
Later on, Member Customs Nisar Muhammad formed a committee in order to inquire the facts and figures in the clearance of 1900 vehicles under the Amnesty Scheme from June, 2012 to November, 2013.
