PRA steps up E-IMS enforcement

Lahore: The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has ramped up its efforts to enforce the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (E-IMS), targeting businesses that fail to comply. Over the past two days, the authority has issued notices to over 70 hotels, restaurants, and marquees across the province. Further, enforcement teams have imposed fines on certain restaurants that persisted in violating E-IMS regulations despite receiving previous notices.

The E-IMS system is designed to enhance transparency in commercial transactions and bolster monitoring of sales and tax collection. Businesses surpassing a certain sales threshold are mandated to provide receipts via the system, while the PRA conducts digital monitoring of sales and tax records of integrated enterprises. Customers are required to receive computerized and verifiable receipts upon making payments, with action being taken against establishments that fail to furnish proper sales invoices.

According to the PRA, E-IMS will enable them to compare declared business volumes in tax returns with actual tax collection records, thereby identifying discrepancies and bolstering tax compliance. The authority has warned that businesses persisting in violating the system after receiving notices will face legal action. A spokesperson for the PRA emphasized that safeguarding the taxes paid by consumers is their foremost concern, and stringent penalties are being enforced against those engaged in fraudulent activities.