The Business Community of Southern Punjab demanded Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to withdraw the unnecessary amendments made in Sales Tax regime which caused troubles for them.
President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Mian Anis'A Sheikh said on Saturday that revision was needed in Federal Excise and Income Tax Return Filing via recently introduced returns filing system and its relevant form, particularly to delete the mandatory condition of CNIC and Annexure 'D' of Income Tax. Anis urged for immediate withdrawal of mandatory condition of CNIC/ NTN vide SRO 821(I)/2011 for all purchases made by any unregistered person, delete whole Annexure D (Details of Personal Expenses) of Income Tax and withdrawal of Annexure F (Carry forward Summary) and Annexure H (Stock Statement) of Sales Tax owing to complicated calculations and cumbersome exercise which the small business houses could not comply with.
Similarly related to income tax return, he pointed out the calculation of flood surcharge, where the payer's were expected to calculate 15 percent surcharge to be exact on 108 days of their annual income is complicated. He demanded to resolve these issues up to the satisfaction of business community, simplify the tax filing system and further extend the date of filing of returns. He urged FBR should stop creating such resistance and should involve its own tax machinery to increase the tax net and leave the business community alone to concentrate on its business and enhance income and as a result the tax revenue.
Anis A Sheikh voiced to enhance tax-base and tax to GDP ratio and said high rates of taxes led to tax evasion, corruption and promote black economy and smuggling regime. He urged for equal treatment to the taxpayers and the tax collectors, with no discrimination in respect of penal action. He said, "Unilateral decision shall not be taken by FBR as we are major stakeholder and Karachi alone contributes 68 percent of the revenue so before framing any policy the KCCI should be taken on board."