FBR considering amnesty scheme for GB NCP vehicles: Business Recorder

The Federal Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance will discuss the proposal of amnesty scheme for regularisation of nearly 8,000 non-duty paid vehicles in Gilgit Baltistan. Sources told Business Recorderhere on Thursday that the tax authorities would take up the matter with Minister of Finance Abdul Hafiz Sheikh to take some decision on the amnesty scheme for the legalisation of non-duty paid vehicles in Gilgit Baltistan on payment of duties and taxes.

Under the existing customs laws, the non-duty paid vehicles have been outrightly confiscated by the customs department and later these vehicles have been disposed off under the auction procedure. As per customs laws, there is no option of amnesty scheme for payment of reduced amount of duties and taxes for the regularisation of non-duty paid vehicles.

Recently, the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court has directed the government to regularise non-duty paid vehicles of Gilgit-Baltistan on payment of duties and taxes. The FBR has decided to approach the Ministry of Finance on the possibility of announcing new amnesty scheme for regularisation of these non-duty paid vehicles in Gilgit Baltistan.

According to sources, around 8,000 vehicles are plying in the area of Gilgit Baltistan with the permission of their local excise and taxation department. Tax authorities would also analyse the aspect of area specific amnesty scheme for the legalisation of non-duty paid vehicles. In case the government announces an amnesty scheme for a specific area, whether owners of non-duty paid vehicles in other areas can also demand similar kind of scheme. The FBR would also discuss the legal and procedural implications of the proposed amnesty scheme with the Ministry of Finance, sources added.

Source: http://www.brecorder.com/taxation/single/666/181/1241973/