Pakistan: SME and export sectors are exempted from regulatory duty
On 16 October 2017, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and export-oriented units are exempted from paying regulatory duty levied through SRO 1035(I)/2017 on the import of raw material and
See MorePakistan: Ministries of the NHS directs government to make cigarettes inaccessible to the citizens
Recently, the ministries of national health services (NHS) and the finance department have been asked to implement the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Agreement on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to make cigarettes inaccessible to citizens by
See MorePakistan approves updating tax treaties with Sri Lanka, Nepal, France, Tunisia, Morocco, and Portugal
On 10 October 2017, the federal cabinet has granted approval to amend existing conventions on avoidance of double taxation treaties with Sri Lanka, Nepal, France, Portugal, Tunisia and Morocco for avoiding double taxation and the prevention of
See MorePakistan: Cabinet approves signature of protocol to tax treaty with Bahrain
The federal cabinet on 7 September 2017, has approved the signing of an amending protocol to the 2005 income tax treaty with Bahrain for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on
See MorePakistan: Cabinet approves amending taxation treaties with Finland, Italy, and Turkey
The federal cabinet on 7 September 2017, approved amending the existing conventions of avoidance of double taxation treaties with Finland, Italy, and Turkey. The cabinet, which chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, given approval to amend
See MorePakistan: FBR publishes explanatory notes to the Finance Act 2017
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has published Circular No. 04 dated September 06, 2017 to explain the important changes made to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 through Finance Act, 2017. The main changes include: A new concept of ‘Startup
See MorePakistan: Cabinet ratifies DTA with Hong Kong
On 15 August 2017, the federal cabinet ratified an agreement between Pakistan and Hong Kong (special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China) for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to
See MorePakistan implements documentation and CbC reporting requirements
In Pakistan until 2016, no transfer pricing documentation was required under the Income Tax Ordinance (ITO). However, with effect from 1 July 2016, the Government has approved the new legislation to effectively implement the Country-by-Country
See MorePakistan signs Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement
On 22 June 2017, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) on the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country (CbC) reports. The signing took place at a ceremony held during the third meeting of the
See MorePakistan: FBR extends super tax on banking companies
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), through a circular, has explained the explanation and extension of super tax for the financial year 2017-18. According to Finance Bill for the financial year 2017-18, Super Tax is levied at the rate of 4% on the
See MorePakistan: National Assembly Passes Finance Bill 2017
The National Assembly on 13 June 2017 passed the Finance Bill 2017 by majority vote to give effect to measures announced in the annual budget proposals for the fiscal year 2017-18. Therefore, from 1 July 2017 the following major changes in
See MorePakistan: FBR increases sales tax rates
On July 1, 2017, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) amended the rules in SRO 583 (I) / 2017 as regards the payment of increased sales tax by the steel industry. The FBR has increased the sales tax to 10.5% from 9% for the consumption of each
See MoreHong Kong: IRD gazettes orders on treaties with Latvia, Belarus and Pakistan
Three orders made by the Chief Executive in Council under the Inland Revenue Ordinance to implement the Comprehensive Agreements for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (CDTAs) with Latvia, Belarus and Pakistan respectively were gazetted on June 30
See MorePakistan: Proposes documentation and CbC reporting requirements
On June 5, 2017, Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue has presented a notification (Notification SRO 421 (I) / 2017) regarding Documentation and country-by-country reporting requirements in respect of transfer pricing. The proposed requirements are
See MorePakistan: Signs the Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty related BEPS measures
On 7 June 2017, the OECD announced that Pakistan signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (MCAA). About 70 countries have signed this Multilateral Instrument (MLI) agreement at the
See MorePakistan: FBR proposes to introduce a Directorate General of Transfer pricing
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed through Finance Bill 2017 to establish Directorate General of Transfer Pricing which shall consist of a Director General and as many Directors, Additional Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors
See MorePakistan: FBR proposes budget for 2017/2018
Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on 26 May 2017, presented the budget for 2017/2018 to the parliament. The following tax measures are proposed in the Budget: Corporate income tax rate: Corporate tax rate for companies other than banking
See MorePakistan: Companies Act 2017 passed by Senate
On 15 May 2017, the Senate approved the draft Companies Bill, 2017, replacing the Companies Ordinance 1984. The Bill aims to facilitate procedures for the country’s business sector and discourage fraud, money laundering and terror
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