Deposit 50pc super tax in seven days, SC orders

The Supreme Court on Monday modified an interim order of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and directed wealthy taxpayers to deposit their 50 per cent due super tax directly with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) within one week. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, took up the FBR plea against the impugned interim order which had stayed the recovery proceedings from high-earning taxpayers. The apex court order came at a time when Pakistan tax authorities are negotiating with the visiting IMF team new taxation measures to check the widening fiscal gap in 2022-23. The FBR has projected Rs250bn from the imposition of the super tax in FY23. The final revenue measures are expected to be announced on Feb 9 when the IMF mission will complete its policy discussion and leave for Washington. Taxpayers challenged the imposition of super tax with retrospective effect for the tax year 2022 and onward before the Lahore High Court (LHC).