ISLAMABAD: Working in conjunction with the Federal Board of Revenue, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, through the Finance Act 2011-12, got the taxation regime for capital markets, corporate and non-banking financial sectors reformed. The SECP’s strategy encompasses continuation of reforms in the capital markets and corporate sector, deepening of structural reforms through removal of anomalies constraining economic activity, and to provide a level playing field to all the stakeholders, recommended various amendments to the 2001 Income Tax Ordinance, which were notified through the Finance Act 2011-12. The significant amendments are as follow: Tax Credit on Investment in new shares and for life insurance premiums/takaful contributions paid: To promote investments in initial public offerings (IPOs), the amount of eligible investment to benefit from tax credit on investment in IPO has been increased from existing Rs300,000 to Rs500,000. The percentage of the person’s tax...

Federal Board of Revenue has extended the date for payment of taxes/duty for the tax period May, 2011, and filing of Sales Tax / Federal Excise returns, up to 20th June, 2011, for registered persons claiming benefit, in exercise of the powers conferred under section 74 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and section 43 of the Federal Excise Act, 2005, under SRO. 283(I)/2011 dated 01.04.2011

A senior team of FBR led by Mr. Asrar Raouf, Honorable Member Tax Policy, Federal Board of Revenue, met with representatives of the Karachi Stock Exchange to address issues related to capital gains tax. A consensus was reached on achieving tax payer facilitation to ensure widening of the tax net. Confidence building measures to achieve this include: 1. The committee considered various proposals to avoid hard-ship to tax-payers. A sub-committee comprising members from FBR, and The Karachi Stock Exchange was constituted to consider the same. 2. FBR will establish a separate cell for facilitation of foreign investors at LTU and RTO. This information will be provided to the Stock Exchange. 3. Financing income/markup under securities lending and borrowing regulations, margin financing and any other leverage products as approved by SECP, would be taxed at the rate of 10%, as full and final tax. 4. Gain or loss under day trading and trading in derivative products would be subject to CGT und...

Mohammed Sohail Local and foreign investors have raised many questions since the imposition of tax on gains made through share trading. It is so, as this tax has been imposed after a gap of more than three decades. In order to clarify some issues, following is a response to frequently asked queries. These answers are based on our understating and may change if tax authorities clarify the matter which they hopefully will in next few days. When will this tax be imposed? This tax will be imposed from July 1, 2010 on realised capital gains. There is some confusion regarding tax rate mentioned for tax year 2010 which we believe would be clarified as this tax will not be implemented before June 30, 2010. What is the rate of tax? For FY11 the gains realised from securities held for less than six months, the rate of annual income tax is 10 per cent and for securities held for more than six months and less than one year the annual tax liability would be 8 per cent of the gained amount. Again th...

The Karachi Stock Exchange ( KSE ), which gained 146.93 points last week, lost 149.07 points this week and closed at 9,774.07 points; failing to achieve 10,000 psychological level despite touching it twice this week amid uncertainty over the implications of the detailed verdict on NRO . The average turnover remained 207.882 million shares as compared to 157.020 million shares of the previous week; up 50.862 million shares. On the other hand, the KSE 30-index also lost 188 points and closed at 10285.97 as compared to 202.27 points gain in previous week. Bears overwhelmed the market for three days while bulls dominated the equity for two days only. The bourse started business on Monday with negative note when KSE 100-index shed around 28 points. On Wednesday and Thursday, market also lost heavily as KSE shed 50, 151 points respectively. Local investors opted for panic selling on Thursday on renewed concerns over judiciary action after NRO detailed judgement. Though, bourse lost almost...