THE Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has read with great interest the news item (April 26) regarding the KTBA’s letter. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 65(A) of the Sindh Sales Tax on Services Act 2011 which provides for redressal of taxpayers’ grievances through the office of the ombudsman, several other legal remedies are also provided under Sections 55, 57, 61 and 65 of Act-2011 and also under Section 7 of the SRB Act 2010.

The SRB is a taxpayer-friendly transparent organisation, the efficiency and performance of which has been lauded at various provincial, national and international forums. It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh Sales Tax at the concessionary reduced rate of 5pc is payable in the nature of a pass-on indirect tax on the services provided or rendered by tax consultants (members of the KTBA). However, the KTBA filed a constitutional petition in the Sindh High Court and obtained an ad interim order on Aug 28, 2013. Most of the members of the KTBA are not paying the said concessionary rate of sales tax.

The SRB expects that the KTBA and its members shall cooperate with the SRB in payments of the Sindh Sales Tax leviable on their services. For redressal of grievances of the KTBA or its members (tax consultants) or their clients, the SRB is always willing to meet the KTBA and its clients at their convenience.

Zafarullah Shaikh

Spokesperson for Sindh Revenue Board

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2015

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