Licensed agents: SRB allowed to access customs data

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) to access the customs data along with the list of licensed customs agents to ensure proper payment of sales tax by service providers (customs agents).

Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the FBR has written a letter to S. Mushtaq Kazmi Member Tax Policy SRB, Karachi on sharing of FBR's Customs data with the SRB. It is a big development that the FBR has authorised the SRB to access the customs data pertaining to the licensed customs agents. The sharing of data would enable the SRB to know about the customs agents and number of goods declarations filed by such agents on behalf of importers. The exact data would also facilitate the SRB to properly collect sales tax on services provided by the licensed customs agents. Customs data can update the SRB about the day to day clearances made by the customs agents. As a result of on-going negotiations between the SRB and the FBR, the federal tax authorities have finally authorized the SRB to access customs data relating to the licensed customs agents.

The FBR has informed the SRB that after negotiations, the Board has authorised the SRB to access the following customs data: Firstly, list of the licensed customs agents available with the Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement Karachi. Secondly, the number of Goods Declarations (GDs) filed by these agents in a given time period.

As regards the other data related to shipping agents, stevedores, ship management services, freight forwarding agents, ship chandlers, port/airport operators etc, the SRB may contact the relevant agencies directly for the requisite information, FBR added.