FBR detects over Rs8.5m tax evasion

KARACHI:

The Regional Tax Office One (RTO-I) Karachi of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has detected a big scam of tax evasion on sugar.

Sources informed The Express Tribune that RTO-I of the FBR on a tip-off conducted a raid in Saddar area and recovered more than 1,200 sacks of sugar with fake track and trace stamps.

Fake stamps and five trucks loaded with sugar were seized in the operation. When track and trace stamps on sugar bags were scanned through the relevant FBR system, it proved fake. Officials said that the verification process also revealed that fake FBR bar code stickers were also affixed on the sugar sacks. The authorities have seized the sugar and transferred it to the FBR warehouse. Officials say that the concerned sugar mill had put fake stickers on sugar sacks, which is a criminal act.

Action against the sugar mill involved in the tax evasion scam has been initiated under which the required tax will be collected from the sugar mill and a fine will also be imposed on it.

Tax of Rs1,620 per 50kg bag of sugar is levied, while the total amount of tax on the sugar bags to be recovered is more than Rs8.5 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 29^th, 2024.