IMF reports on discussions on Pakistan’s economic position
The IMF has held meetings with officials from Pakistan to conduct discussions as part of the sixth review under its Extended Fund Facility and has issued a press release reporting on its preliminary findings. A Memorandum of Economic and Financial
See MorePakistan: Companies operating in Gwadar Free Zone to get 20-year tax holiday
The Pakistan government plans to provide a 20-year tax holiday to companies that want to establish their business in Gwadar Port's Free Zone. The government has also decided to exempt from customs duties, machinery, equipment and other
See MorePakistan: Government states withholding tax rate for non-filers on registration of immovable property
The government announced on 14 January 2015, through Notification No. 30(I)/2015 that any non-filer (i.e. a taxpayer whose name does not appear on the active taxpayers list issued by the Federal Board of Revenue or who is not a holder of a
See MoreThird Meeting of Second Phase of Negotiations on China-Pakistan Free Trade Area Held in Islamabad
The Third Meeting of the Second Phase of negotiations on the China-Pakistan Free Trade Area was successfully held in Islamabad on January 6-8, 2015. The two sides had talks on various topics including the implementation of reduced taxes in the first
See MorePakistan: Government Declares Sales Tax Rate From 2015
The government of Pakistan issued Notification No. 1152(I)/2014 on 30 December 2014, declaring the sales tax rate to be charged on certain items. The current rate will be effective from 1 January 2015, the sales tax is to be charged at the rate of
See MoreCzech Republic & Pakistan: DTA ratified by Pakistan
The Income Tax Treaty between Czech Republic and Pakistan has ratified by Pakistan on 2nd October 2014. The signing draft of this treaty has approved by the Pakistan’s Cabinet on 29th August 2013. Further details of the treaty will be reported
See MorePakistan: Planning to raise further tax to 2%
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is planning to raise 'further tax' from existing 1 % to 2% in budget (2014-15) on supplies made to persons who have not obtained sales tax registration numbers (STRNs), doubling the burden of extra sales tax on
See MorePakistan: Budget for 2014-2015 has been presented to the parliament
The Pakistan Government has presented to parliament the nation's 2014-2015 Budget, which includes proposals aimed increasing tax compliance rates, increasing progressive direct taxes, and lowering the burden of indirect taxes. The 2014 budget set
See MorePakistan: Budget 2014/15 introduces GST and excise changes
With the Budget 2014/15 Pakistan is introducing a number of minor changes to the Goods & Services Tax (GST) and Excise Duty regimes from July 2014. Following changes will take place: Simplified GST regime introduced for the retail
See MorePakistan Warns Banks to Register For FATCA
The State Bank of Pakistan has issued advice to financial institutions to ensure that they register with the US IRS in respect of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). They have given this advice because the intergovernmental agreement
See MorePakistan Needs to Chase Non-Taxpayers
Currently Pakistan has one of the world’s lowest ratios of tax to gross domestic product (GDP). The ratio in Pakistan is 9 percent compared to India’s tax to GDP ratio of 16 percent, Indonesia’s ratio of 14 percent, and Malaysia’s 15 percent
See MoreSwitzerland – Pakistan DTA Negotiation
According to some media reports, Pakistan is looking to revise the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Switzerland. The current double tax agreement between the two countries was signed on 19 July 2005 and entered into force in 2008. No further
See MorePakistan: Cabinet approves the DTA Protocol with Austria
Pakistan’s Cabinet approved, on 20 January 2014, the Protocol to the DTA signed between Pakistan and Austria. This effectively completes the ratification on the Pakistan
See MoreDTA between Pakistan – Czech Republic
Pakistan’s Cabinet on August 29, 2013, approved the signing of a draft double tax agreement (DTA) with the Czech Republic. A draft agreement was originally initialled on 19 October 2012. No further details of the treaty are currently
See MoreFTA Between Indonesia-Pakistan Enters Into Effect
Indonesia and Pakistan signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in February 2012. This agreement came into effect from September 1 following the signing of an additional Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). The agreement had previously been held
See MoreAfghanistan – Pakistan DTA
Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to launch negotiations towards a double taxation agreement (DTA) at meetings on August 25, 2013. No further details of the negotiations or likely provisions of any future agreement are currently
See MorePakistan: Tax law changes enacted in Finance Act 2013
Pakistan’s Finance Act 2013 implements the tax changes proposed in the budget for 2013. The changes came into force from 1 July 2013. The Finance Act 2013 includes following tax provisions: Change the rules on the taxation of property income,
See MorePakistan: Supreme Court rules against increase in sales tax
The Supreme Court (SC) ruled on 21 June 2013, that the government was not ratified to impose or increase sales tax from 16% to 17% on the value of taxable supplies by way of declaration under section 3 of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1931
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