Sindh excise collection target surpassed

Source: The News Daily



KARACHI: Sindh Excise and Taxation Department has surpassed the tax collection target for the year 2006-07, said Director General of the department Muhammad Asif Marghoob Siddiqui.The department managed to collect Rs8.577 billion under different heads assigned to it during the year. It had collected Rs8.366 billion during 2005-06.The target allocated to the department under the heads of motor vehicle tax, excise duty, infrastructure cess, cotton fee, professional tax and hotel tax was Rs8.133 billion.According to details available with The News, the department collected Rs1.985 billion under the head of motor vehicle tax, Rs1.488 billion in excise duty, Rs4.665 billion infrastructure cess, Rs95.686 million cotton fee, Rs178.799 million professional tax and Rs164.029 million hotel tax.Siddiqui further said that Rs1,000 million has been deposited by the taxpayers in the shape of bank guarantee with the Nazir of Sindh High Court under the head of infrastructure cess and the actual amount collected does not include these bank guarantees.DG of the department said that property tax and entertainment duty has been devolved to the city/district governments, but the collection of this tax and duty is still the responsibility of the Excise and Taxation Department.The amount collected under the head of property tax during the year stood at Rs1.291 billion and Rs33.019 million under the head of entertainment duty.The collection made by the department reflects a healthy growth despite reduction in rate of duty on liquor following the judgments of the Supreme Court. The department is now collecting only Rs270 a bottle. Previously, it was charging Rs375 a bottle.