KARACHI: Hanif Lakhany, Vice President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) & Senior Vice Chairman Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) and Farhan Ashrafi, Vice Chairman PYMA & convener FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on Yarn Trading, have pleaded the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Asim Ahmed for extension in dates of payment and submission of Sales Tax & Federal Excise (FE) Return for the Tax Period of April 2021, by at least 2 weeks, as business community could not file sales tax and federal excise returns due to the long Eid holidays.

In a letter to FBR Chairman Asim Ahmed, Hanif Lakhany and Farhan Ashrafi said that in response to PYMA’s demand for extension till May 31, 2021, the dates for filing sales tax & FE returns extended till May 18, 2021 only. But the Eid holidays did not benefit the business community and they could not prepare and submit their sales tax & federal excise returns for the month of April 2021 in the limited number of days announced.

“It is difficult for the business community to work in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, given the already limited business hours and the risks of the epidemic,” they added. In such a situation, the FBR needs to make it easier for the business community to file their taxes easily.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021