Restriction under section of Sales Tax Act causing financial hardship: FPCCI

KARACHI: Advisory Council of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Budget finds various laws and regulations that do not generate much revenue on the other hand badly affecting the ease of doing business ranking of Pakistan.

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo President FPCCI in this regard has already communicated to the Prime Minister and other concerned ministries for such impediments that are negatively impacting economic growth. During the meeting, the Advisory Council of the FPCCI has decided to extend its full support and cooperation to the government which is struggling to improve the economic environment under the adverse conditions created by COVID-19.

The Advisory Committee during its first meeting analysed the hardships being created under section 8B of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, wherein a registered person is not allowed to adjust input tax in excess of ninety percent of the output tax. This restriction not only restrains the taxpayer to claim its legitimate input tax but is also affecting the ease of doing business and thereby increasing the cost of business.

The Advisory Council under the Convenership of Mr. Zakariya Usman former President of FPCCI reviewed the whole scenario and after due diligence unanimously proposed that hardship and discrepancy created by Section 8B of Sales Tax Act should be removed in the adjustment of input and output tax by allowing 100 percent adjustment of input tax. Amendment in Sec-8B of Sales Tax Act 1990 should be made in the coming budget to allow 100 percent adjustment of input tax against output tax to all registered persons in order to remove anomalies.