ISLAMABAD: In a bid to curb under-invoicing and tax evasion, the government has decided to establish electronic data interfaces with different countries, Arab News reported.
These countries include the United Arab Emirates, European states, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The government has been making efforts to combat false declaration and under-assessment of goods by importers to evade customs duty and taxes. It is a common practice in Pakistan that importers change invoices by greasing the palms of government officials to pay nominal taxes while clearing their consignments from ports.
“The under-invoicing and tax evasion by importers run into millions of rupees annually and we want to curb it by coordinating other countries,” said Member Inland Revenue Policy at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Dr. Hamid Ateeq Sarwar.
He maintained that the electronic data interface with Afghanistan would be established by February this year and the project will be extended to other countries in phases.
He said the FBR is planning to complete the project with the UAE, European countries and Singapore by June this year.
