ISLAMABAD (February 07 2003) : The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to conduct audit of all those custom agents, who deposit sales tax below the minimum benchmark, says a ruling 3/2002 issued on Thursday.
The minimum benchmark as per document for custom agents notified by CBR: Bill of Entry filed, minimum value of services Rs 1500, amount of tax would be Rs 225; Ex-Bond Bs/E filed, minimum value of services Rs 500, amount of tax Rs 75; shipping bill, minimum value of services Rs 800, amount of tax Rs 120; rebate claim, minimum value of services Rs 1000, amount of tax Rs 150; bill of entry filed at airport (AFU) including baggage declaration, minimum value of services Rs 500, amount of tax Rs 75 and transit permit per declaration, minimum value of services Rs 500 and amount of tax Rs 75.
According to the new audit criteria, the CBR has divided custom agents in three different categories.
Those customs agents who deposit sales tax less than the minimum benchmark level per document filed, as indicated above, would be invariably audited.
Ten percent of those customs agents who deposit sales tax according to minimum benchmark level per document filed would be selected for audit.
The agents depositing sales tax twice or more than the prescribed minimum benchmark level per document filed would be audited once in three years.
The ruling added sales tax general order STGO No 06 of 2002 was issued by the Board to ensure sales tax payment by the customs agents.
The procedure for prescription of minimum benchmark level per document filed and the corresponding audit criteria to be adopted was not transparent.
The matter was examined in the Board and new audit criteria was issued for the above-mentioned sector.
The CBR has directed all collectors of sales tax to co-ordinate with the respective collectors of customs and obtain data regarding filing of documents by the customs agents and conduct audit accordingly.
