The government has asked the business representatives to file their concerns over the sales tax (ST) sector wise in writing so that they could be addressed by the tax authorities to finalise recommendations before August 14.
An official source said the government made this recommendation at the first meeting of the Sales Tax Committee, which was attended by the representatives of various chambers to resolve sales tax related issues facing different sectors.
The committee was formed after FPCCI and various chambers offered to act as a bridge to resolve the lingering issues related to tax compliance between the traders and Federal Board of Revenue. The meeting was chaired by Convener of the Committee Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, also Parliamentary Secretary Finance and participated by Muhammad Ashraf Khan, Member (Inland Revenue) Operations, FBR, Ashfaq Tola of TRC/TAC, Asif Haroon of FCA, Asad Mashahdi, President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Anjum Nisar, President KCCI.
The committee discussed various suggestions and proposals. Some of the members identified sectors with potential issues requiring threadbare discussions for resolution. The tax authorities attended the meeting recommended that the chambers should give their recommendations sector wise in writing so that they could properly addressed. This was agreed by the chambers representatives and it was decided that the recommendations will be filed in writing and they would be sorted out in the meeting on August 6 and 7.
Chairing the meeting, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan said the government was keen to resolve the sales tax issues facing the business community and it was open to all suggestions from the business community to facilitate them to ensure a business-friendly environment in the country.
He said the next meetings of the committee would dilate on a host of sales tax related issues facing different sectors which had been identified in consultation with the business community. He said the committee would also hold sector-to-sector meetings and the recommendations of the committee would be firmed up by August 13 and presented to the government.
