MIRPUR (Kashmir English): In continuation of the ongoing extensive drive to bring maximum of the entrepreneurs in the tax net in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the State Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is all set to launch online monthly return of Sales Tax with effect from next month.
Disclosing this, Commissioner Inland Revenue Department (South) AJK Syed Anser Ali Tuesday said that the scheduled launching of the online monthly return of Sales Tax was in testing mode at present.
He said despite non-adaptation of new FBR taxes except on salaried class, the revenue department’s figures stood at much higher as compared to those registered last year.
Reduction in sales tax on electricity
The IRD Commissioner said that reduced power tariff in Azad Jammu Kashmir following the AJK-wide street agitation by masses had caused reduction in sales tax on electricity roughly to the volume of Rs. 4 to 5billions per annum across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“Despite all these odds, the departmental revenue stands much higher depicting extreme hard work and dedicated efforts for realisation of the revenue of the state exchequer”, he asserted.
The Commissioner revealed that the tax collection target of South zone AJK till January 31, 2025 for ongoing fiscal year 2024-25 was successfully achieved as it realised Rs. 37,672 against the set target of Rs. 30,618 million till January 31, 2025 standing surplus with an increase of Rs. 7,053 million against the set target.
Despite all these odds, departmental revenues are on the much higher side shows extreme hard work and dedicated efforts for revenues of the state.
Responding to series of questions about the IRD’s reported integrated plan in AJK to raise the volume of levies through use of the latest means, Syed Anser Ali said that previously there was no visibility of sales tax being collected by Brands from customers.
“The business hubs used to pay the sales tax on their will since the CBR/ IRD AJK was lacking any mechanism to check whether they were depositing the Sales Tax as collected or not”, he pointed out.
The Inland Revenue Department top boss continued that after the recent POS installation and implementation, IRD was in categorical position to gather true sales data as well as sales tax collected from the customers.
“It will definitely boost state revenue to greater extent and transparency will, indeed, prevail on the other hand”, he added.
“Our Task force always stands in action checking implementation on all brands integrated with AJK POS till 11 pm daily,” the Commissioner said while responding to a question.
Syed Ansar Ali pointed out that there was mushroom growth of the brands at Mirpur.
To another question the IRD South Chief said that after 13th amendment in AJK interim constitution, all kinds of taxes including income tax stood in domain of AJK Legislative Assembly.
He emphasized that transparency was prime objective to make maximum increase in revenue.
Commissioner IRD revealed that POS will be expanded to food chains and later on to bakeries and shopping malls in Mirpur city besides rest of the other districts falling in South region of the State Inland Revenue Department.
