Tobacco production: 5 percent adjustable advance tax levied on purchase value: FBR

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had levied 5 percent adjustable advance tax on the purchase value of tobacco from manufacturers of cigarettes (excluding farmers) from July 1, 2017. Dispelling impression created by some quarters, sources explained to Business Recorder Wednesday that the budgetary measure taken in Finance Act 2017 and mentioned that the levy was not imposed on farmers and is not an additional tax.
Official sources explained that no such adjustable advance tax has been imposed on farmers through Finance Act 2017. Under the new law, Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) is now required to collect advance tax at the rate of 5 percent of the purchase value of tobacco from persons purchasing tobacco including manufacturers of cigarettes. This advance tax is not an additional tax and is already being collected from the legitimate players, it is in fact adjustable against the payable taxes. This measure has been introduced to monitor and curtail the manufacture and sale of non-duty paid cigarettes. FBR is able to track and penalize the non- duty paid cigarette manufacturers that resort to underhanded tactics by making illicit purchases subsequently leading to tax evasions in payments made.
They further added that the responsibility of collecting this adjustable advance tax has been placed on Pakistan Tobacco Board or its contractors, at the time of collecting cess on tobacco, at the rate of five percent (5%) of the purchase value of tobacco from every person purchasing tobacco including manufacturers of cigarettes.
The fact is that the tobacco farmers are already protected under law, through the MLO 487 whereby the prices are mandated to increase every year and cannot be lower than the previous years. This means that the farmers get a higher price every year for growing tobacco. Some quarters have tried to create a wrong impression that 5 percent advance tax has been imposed on farmers, which is legally totally incorrect.
This tax has been levied by FBR for check and balance purposes on those cigarette manufacturers who evade taxes. Legitimate players can adjust this tax against the payable duties.
In order to document purchase of tobacco, Pakistan Tobacco Board is being entrusted with collection of withholding tax on purchase of tobacco by manufacturers of cigarettes at the rate of 5% of the purchase value of tobacco, at the time of collecting cess. Thus, it is a documentation measure that is adjustable in order to check illicit production in the country. This is a clear indication that none of these measures will affect the farmers and their yield, sources added.