Motor vehicle, property tax: Minister urged to introduce e-payment system

KARACHI: Taxpayers Monday urged Excise & Taxation and Narcotics Control & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla to introduce online motor vehicle, property and professional tax payment facility keeping in mind of corona pandemic.

Talking to Business Recorder at the Sindh Excise Department, they said that online payment or e-payment system is a best way of making transactions or paying for goods and services through an electronic medium, without the use of cheques or cash or going to bank or tax office.

They said e-payment system is very convenient compared to traditional payment methods. Under online payment system taxpayer can pay tax online at any time of day or night, from any part of the world, Taxpayers don't have to spend time in queues, waiting for their turn to transact. Nor do they have to wait for a check to clear the bank so they can access the funds they need to pay taxes.

E-payment also eliminates the security risks that come with handling cash money. They said e-payment system is very advance in Pakistan and now K-electric, Water Board, Sui Southern Gas Company and Federal Board of Revenue providing facility of online payment facility of bills.

It is noted that may people do not pay motor vehicle tax (MVT) , property and professional tax owing different reasons including delay receipt of property tax challan, huge rush at MVT, only one bank recover these taxes etc.

Punjab government collects revenue of approximately Rs. 300 billion annually in taxes and levies. In order to streamline tax and levies collection process for citizens, Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has planned an e-Payment Gateway that will remove the need for physical visits and wait in long queues. Citizens will be able to conduct these transactions through a smart phone application anytime, anywhere.

This app is not limited to online payments but has several other P2G services like launching municipal complaints and applying for police character certificate and for domiciles, etc. In order to execute financial transactions, the PITB is working with banks to design a seamless model and architecture of the gateway application.

This application shall accommodate the government functions including e-Stamping, e-Challaning, Vehicle Token Tax, New Vehicle Registration, Vehicle Ownership Transfer, Property Tax, Professional Tax, Entertainment Tax, Driving License Fee, Domicile Fee, Character Certificate, Municipal Complaints and Police Complaints. Work on this project is in progress and some of application have already launched.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020