KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended the impugned notice for recovery of income support levy till the next date of hearing.
A two-member bench of the SHC headed by Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi took this action on a constitutional petition filed by Kamran Yousaf Mirza, seeking cancellation of impugned notice issued by tax authorities.
During the hearing, counsel for the tax department sought time to submit para-wise comments. Therefore, the court granted time and directed the tax authorities and deputy attorney general to file their respective comments on the next date of hearing. The court adjourned the hearing for third week of February 2017.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated in his constitutional petition that petitioner is an individual and a salaried employee, presently working with Pakistan Business Council after retirement from Abbott Laboratories Karachi.
According to the petitioner, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued notice to him regarding income support levy as per SRO 904 (1)/2013 dated 1st October, 2013 specifying the procedure for payment of income support levy @ 0.5 percent of net moveable assets exceeding Rs 1 million.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division, chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), commissioner Inland Revenue and deputy commissioner Inland Revenue Range-B, Zone-IV, Large Taxpayers Unit-II as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the court to cancel and quash the impugned notice issued on November 29, 2016.
He also pleaded the SHC to restrain the tax authorities from taking coercive action and initiate recovery proceeding against him till the final decision of this petition.
