FBR Plans to Scrap Super Tax Completely

Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial announced the government's plan to remove the Super Tax completely, offering a significant relief to the nation's business community. During a visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Langrial stated that the current Super Tax rate had already been decreased by 2 percentage points, with the goal of complete elimination.

This decision received positive feedback from industrialists, who have been long advocating that the Super Tax serves as an extra burden on an already heavily taxed sector.

Langrial further revealed that an FBR office would soon be established at KATI to assist local industrialists, and the scope of the FBR help desk would be expanded from Karachi to Sukkur, enhancing the tax authority's reach beyond the provincial capital. Furthermore, the government intends to work alongside industrialists to simplify import processes for raw materials, as well as address cross-border trade hurdles faced by the leather industry.

Additionally, Langrial mentioned a new model for improving the effectiveness of the Track and Trace system in the pharmaceutical sector, urging the business community to collaborate in addressing tax evasion.

However, industrialists have expressed demands for faster tax refunds, as billions of rupees are currently held in pending refunds. Addressing this concern, KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan called for quicker release of payments within the designated timeframe. Industrialist leader Zubair Chhaya proposed the appointment of an FBR focal person at KATI to aid businesses in resolving tax-related issues.

He also suggested reviewing unnecessary Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) and existing tax laws to lessen the tax burden on the business community. Industrialists further advocated for a one-window operation to streamline business-related requirements and improve coordination with government departments. They urged the government to broaden the tax base instead of imposing additional financial pressures on existing taxpayers.