20000327

CBR to conduct

survey in 13

major cities

FAISALABAD: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) is starting a Select Survey in 13 major cities of the country from the middle of next month to net tax evaders with the objective of broadening tax base in the country.

This was disclosed Shariq Mehmood, Central Regional Commissioner, Income and Wealth Tax Multan, while addressing the members of All Pakistan Cloth Exporters Association (APCEA) here Sunday.

He said that Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Multan have been initially selected to be included in the survey. Thirty special teams have been constituted which would watch and mount surveillance on the business of important trade centers and big markets in these cities, he added.

About Tax Amnesty scheme, Liaison officers have already been appointed by the government in each Income Tax (IT) zone who would be holding seminars in order to create the climate of confidence among the tax collectors and taxpayers. He said that dislodge was an essential part of the link between the two sides and it ultimately proved to be beneficial for every one. It was in the course of dialogue that the awareness of consensus and settlement of disputed open, he added.

The RCIT conceded that the present Wealth Tax (WT) law required amendment to make it suitable for the changing needs of trade and industry. He asked the interested members to file their proposed amendments with the government before the formulation of next budget.

Shariq Mehmood said that presently, the people responsible for deducting tax at source i.e. Withholding (WH) tax were tardy in depositing the same in Government treasury. This was practically true of cotton ginners where deduction is made regularly but was not deposited in government treasury on schedule. Reacting to a demand for abolition of WT, he said that chances of abolition of WT were very dim as the government was getting substantial revenue of Rs 3 billion from this source alone. This revenue, he said, was almost equal to the total spending made by government on social welfare and education.

He also stated that exemption of self-occupied house would be made conditional in the forthcoming budget. Shariq agreed that the continuity in policy was most essential part of economic progress as it generated conducive environment for the same. The RCIT further said that the tax department was implementing organisation of the policies of the government and it was the duty of the tax officers to help and facilitate the taxpayers in completion of their responsibilities toward the state.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Mian Naeem Omer, Chairman APCEA emphasized the need of a regular dialogue and rapport between the government officials and the business community. This discourse between the two sides would enable them to sort out the difference of opinion and forge consensus among them. The APCEA chairman stressed the need for continuing the prevalent assessment schemes for the exporters whereby the exporters tax responsibilities are discharged in to with the filing of statements under section 143-B. He said that certain officers were issuing notices to exporters to file regular returns for their non-export sales.

He also pleaded for prescribing time limit for decision making and also to enhancing the power of assessing officer who should also be hold accountable for wrong decisions. The APCEA Chairman also implored for special tax amnesty scheme for industry. Elaborating, he said that the present scheme was mainly targeted for hidden wealth in the shape of unproductive assets and properties. But the requirement of industry was quite different, he said and added that the industry require liquid cash for running it and it was, therefore, imperative that industry should be provided Tax Amnesty free from, all kinds of taxes.ÑPPI