KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will begin probe into the money trails of 500 high net-worth Pakistani individuals and companies having properties in the UK from August 1 (today) to discover their ‘probable’ tax evasion as an amnesty scheme for concealed local and foreign assets expired on Tuesday,… – Continue reading
The extension of the deadline of the tax amnesty scheme has not borne the results it was expected to. The FBR is said to have taken the advice of accounting firms to extend the deadline, but the results have not matched the early optimism. Despite this, though, the amnesty scheme… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Friday announced that they launched new programme to support Pakistan in implementing new international tax standards. According to statement issued by the OECD after holding three days talks with Pakistani authorities stated that as part of a mission held from… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: Under a newly-signed agreement, Pakistan will have access to the information about its nationals’ assets abroad, it emerged on Monday. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has obtained information regarding immovable properties owned by Pakistanis in the United Kingdom (UK). The information has been obtained with the assistance of… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Hong Kong-based companies including a retail chain store planned to enter Pakistan following a bilateral treaty signed between the two countries last year to avoid double taxation that may boost annual foreign direct investment inflows from approximately $35 million, officials said on Tuesday. Officials at Trade Development Authority of… – Continue reading
By end of last month, over $6 billion of overseas assets had been declared by Pakistani nationals on which they paid $290 million in taxes and the amnesty scheme has been extended to the 31st of July earlier this month Affluent individuals are pushing the interim government to permit them… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The central bank’s rules to restrict access of the non-filers to foreign currency accounts would gradually clean up untaxed money from the banking system, although it may hurt much-needed forex inflows in the short run, analysts and bankers said. Analysts said foreign currency accountholders have been facing intensifying scrutiny… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: If Panama Papers documents are any guide, Saifullahs of Lakki Marwat has the highest number of offshore companies owned by any Pakistani family and majority of them are in British Virgin Islands. Seychelles and Panama are two other jurisdictions where they have set up companies. While source of wealth… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Dubai is the offshore destination of choice for Pakistanis to park untaxed money as bulk of funds against declaration of foreign assets under the amnesty scheme were received from the Emirates, a top tax official said on Saturday. “We will disclose more details regarding declarations of foreign assets on… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is poised to receive information about offshore financial accounts in September 2018. This was stated by the spokesperson and member policy Dr Muhammad Iqbal while addressing a press conference on the ongoing Tax Amnesty Scheme on Friday. Due to the initiatives by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and… – Continue reading
Islamabad : With suspension of all taxes on mobile phone cards for next 15 days on the orders of Supreme Court (SC) with effect from Wednesday midnight, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is contemplating upon different options including suggesting the apex court to abolish withholding tax (WHT) of 12.5… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will hire foreign experts to conduct tax auditing and eliminate evasion and avoidance, officials said on Tuesday. The officials said the Commissioner of Inland Revenue was authorised to call for record and conduct audit of taxpayers. The commissioner is also empowered to set… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s tax authorities have placed standardised software for receiving first batch of around 50,000 cases of Pakistanis owning assets and bank accounts abroad through automatic exchange portal from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with effect from October 1. Top officials in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has given a 15-day timeline to banks and brokerages to furnish financial data of foreign customers as the country signed in an international convention for information exchange to curb tax evasion, officials said on Wednesday. The officials said FBR directed financial institutions, including… – Continue reading
Islamabad: Pakistan customs officials are reportedly reluctant to file a criminal case against a Chinese company for evading taxes due to what they described as “national interests”. According to the Express Tribune, sensitivities related to the over USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, is preventing customs from filing… – Continue reading
Islamabad : Pakistan’s tax authorities on Friday informed the Senate panel that Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) placed one dozen action plans for making part of tax laws in Pakistan so the FBR made all-out efforts to expand its jurisdiction outside the country in line with best international… – Continue reading
Islamabad: ANP ex-Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour has said that there should be minimum 20 per cent tax rate for non-filers and tax evaders as 5 per cent tax return is very low and should not be passed. Mr Bilour was speaking at a special seminar on ‘Post Budget (2018-19) overview… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Government asked banks to impose up to three percent tax on foreign funds transfer made through plastic card in a new finance bill. The finance bill for the next fiscal year of 2018/19 proposed a new advance tax levy on individuals remitting amounts abroad through credit, debit or prepaid… – Continue reading
Islamabad : The government has proposed the scope of gift scheme in order to avoid misuse for purpose of tax evasion. According to the Finance Bill 2018 issued here on Friday, it has been decided by the government to restrict the scope of gifts amongst the relatives of the taxpayer…. – Continue reading
KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has accused the Federal Board of Revenue of double taxation after the tax authorities raised a demand of Rs4.32 billion income tax and withholding tax on goods against various departments of the Sindh government. This, he said, while presiding over a meeting today… – Continue reading
(Web Desk) – Pakistan Stock Brokers Association (PBSA) has proposed end of double taxation whereby abolishing tax on dividends, bonus and capital value tax as it has been discouraging foreign as well as domestic investment in the Pakistan stock exchange . Pakistan Stock Brokers Association sent budget proposals from the… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has asked the government to slash the advance tax from 0.3 percent to 0.1 percent for filers on cash withdrawals from banks exceeding Rs 50,000, and abolish the Super Tax in the upcoming budget 2018-19. The SBP has referred to sections 231 A… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Authorities have spotted more than 600 local firms to investigate the tax status and gather other financial information of non-residents, as new rules on data sharing, under an international treaty, kicked in to fight tax evasion, officials said on Friday. The officials said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)… – Continue reading
KARACHI: People are awaiting budget announcement for the next fiscal year of 2018/19 to declare their local and foreign assets and benefit from the new amnesty scheme, a senior tax practitioner said on Wednesday. Khalid Mahmood, president of the Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) said bar members are receiving a… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Sunday issued the Foreign Assets (Declaration and Repatriation) Ordinance bringing into effect a tax amnesty scheme announced by the prime minister earlier this week. The ordinance encompasses assets obtained on installments, declaration of property as per the “fair market value” and its confiscation by the… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is all set to offset a possible exit of 0.52 million returns filers from the net after the implementation of a tax exemption on certain income group from July 1, officials said on Saturday. “About 0.52 million income tax returns will be lost… – Continue reading
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said the provincial government has been facing frequent arbitrary and unauthorised deductions for the past some years by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) through the State Bank of Pakistan in connection with the withholding and sales taxes on goods from the… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Foreign investors expressed concern over a proposed tax amnesty scheme to bring back offshore investments, terming it as an injustice with compliant taxpayers, officials said on Monday. Overseas Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), representing major foreign companies in Pakistan recently shared its concerns, through a letter, with… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: A three-member committee, constituted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, has proposed amendments to laws of Income Tax Ordinance (ITO), 2001 and Protection of Economic Reform Act, 1992, for removing legal lacunas as they consider it as pre-requisites for introducing yet another amnesty scheme to bring offshore assets into… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has listed 400 Pakistanis who own real estate in UAE, sources told Geo News Wednesday, after the revenue minister announced an investigation into the matter. Geo News broke the story on February 6, 2018, in which it reported that the Pakistani individuals have… – Continue reading
ONCE again reports are appearing in the media about the billions of dollars stashed by Pakistanis in foreign accounts or the investments they have made especially in property market abroad. National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance was informed on Friday that seven thousand Pakistanis have invested a whopping Rs 800… – Continue reading
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has written to several state institutions seeking record and details of offshore companies reportedly established in tax havens abroad by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, DawnNews has reported. The Supreme Court had in November last… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Government on Saturday said it may roll out an amnesty to allow offshore bank account holders to declare their wealth against nominal tax rates ahead of the implementation of OECD’s treaty to exchange financial details with foreign countries in September. Miftah Ismail, adviser to the Prime Minister for finance,… – Continue reading
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has instructed Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Economic Affairs and Revenue Miftah Ismail to implement tax reforms to strengthen the economy. During a meeting at his Raiwind residence, Nawaz instructed Miftah to refund 100 per cent sales tax to exporters by February… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Hong Kong on Monday ratified a treaty signed early this year to stave off double taxation on incomes of their individuals and companies. “Pakistan and Hong Kong SAR (special administrative region) have ratified the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD/LONDON: The thirty-eight-page trust deed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Khan Tareen’s offshore trust was signed and formalised in Geneva, Switzerland, and facilitated by HSBC Guyerzeller Trust Company Geneva – raising questions about Swiss bank accounts. During the hearing before Pakistan’s Supreme Court, Tareen was asked no questions about… – Continue reading
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has released a database of around 13.4 million documents revealing over 25,000 companies owned by the world’s rich and influential individuals. The ICIJ coordinated the Panama Papers investigation into offshore companies. The latest files have disclosed the financial details of politicians, corporations, and… – Continue reading
BERN – The Swiss Federal Council has adopted a dispatch on the implementation of a new double taxation agreement (DTA) with Pakistan, according to the Tax News. The DTA was signed in March. According to the Swiss Federal Council, the agreement makes a number of improvements to the previous DTA,… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: The NAB is presently examining all cases of offshore companies, including those unearthed by the Panama Papers to ensure across-the-board accountability. NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal told The News here on Monday that he was presently studying the cases of offshore companies to see what wrong had been… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked on Wednesday that the motive behind hiding an offshore company is to hide wealth. He made the observation while hearing a disqualification petition against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Jehangir Tareen. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The tax authorities have kicked off a planned program under which they share foreign individuals’ financial-account information with the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), sources said on Saturday/ The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), issued a notification regarding the schedule for exchange of… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Number of annual income tax return filers increased 16 percent to more than 1.24 million till August 27 due to efforts of tax machinery and higher withholding tax rates for non-compliant taxpayers, an official document showed. The number of return filers for the tax year 2015 stood at 1.07… – Continue reading
Launching the taxpayer directory for the 2016 tax year, Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, revealed that government efforts to broaden the country’s taxpayer base have been successful. The number of registered taxpayers, he said, has increased by nearly 50 percent from four years ago, when the first “directory” was released…. – Continue reading
Taxpayers laundering tax-evaded money through gifts received fromparents, siblings and spouses who are out of tax net or have no known sources of income ISLAMABAD: The Anti Money Laundering Cell of the Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation, Islamabad has started investigating cases of money laundering committed through gift back… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The rate of withholding tax for non-filers against the winning amount on prize bonds has been increased to 25 percent from the existing 20 percent. The government through the Finance Bill, 2017 has proposed stern measures for non-filers in order to broaden the tax base and generate revenue. In… – Continue reading
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated audit of all those taxpayers who have made offshore transactions during the last six years, sources said on Tuesday. “All corporate and individual taxpayers, who have made offshore investments, have been selected for audit to check the tax concealment,” an official… – Continue reading
Pakistan and Bulgaria on Wednesday signed the Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (ADTA) after the conclusion of second round of negotiations in Islamabad. The ceremony was overseen by Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Dr Muhammad Irshad and Bulgaria… – Continue reading
ISLAMABAD: Even before the formation of a seven-member joint investigation team (JIT) on the money trail of assets owned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court, new questions have arisen over its supposed modus operandi. The JIT team will not… – Continue reading
KARACHI: Tax authorities have sought banks’ assistance to curb tax evasion by flagging suspicious financial transactions, sources said on Friday. The source said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) asked banks to share with the board details of foreign trade, detected under anti-money laundering laws. “The purpose for obtaining the… – Continue reading
Governments around the world are losing as much as half a trillion US dollars (£400 billion) a year in tax revenue due to so-called “profit shifting” by multinational companies, according to research. The research published by the Tax Justice Network found that poorer countries were hardest-hit by the practice, which… – Continue reading
