LAHORE: The Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) has booked directors and management of Abdullah Sugar Mills for allegedly evading federal excise duty and sales tax amounting to Rs 154.1 million, sources told Customs Today.
According to the sources, on the directions of LTU Chief Commissioner Ch Safadar and under the supervision of Inland Revenue Deputy Commissioner Sahibzada Umar Riaz, the monthly sales tax and federal excise duty paid by the company had been scrutinized. The findings of the scrutiny reveled that M/s Abdullah Sugar Mills evaded duty and taxes amounting to Rs 154.1 million. The sources said that the evasion was established from misstatement of the company’s FED liability.
It was said that the company sold white crystalline sugar weighing 32,900 matric tons but it declared its value at Rs 12/kg against the prevailing rates of Rs 48 per kg and avoided paying FED on 309,885 bags of sugar which prompted the LTU to lodge an FIR against the company, its management and directors including CEO Zia Mustafa.
Further, the taxpayer was ordered by the Divisional Bench to pay Rs 45 million on five installments but the taxpayer failed to do so, the sources said,The investigation officer approached the Special Judge Customs, Taxation and Anti-Smuggling and the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the directors and management of Abdullah Sugar Mills.