Although Customs Tariff has been reduced over the last few years, existence of numerous concessionary notifications and conditionalities to avail benefits poses difficulties to the importers and the manufacturing sector. Interpretational disputes arise due to misapplication of statutory provisions. Valuation disputes also arise frequently due to misapplication of Customs law and a general perception in Customs Department about the under-invoicing by importers to evade duty/taxes. Business houses and the manufacturing sector also have to contend with disputes of classifications of goods which have a bearing on the rate of duty. Our Advisory Service provides authentic advice on all these matters besides defending cases of our clients involving adjudication proceedings at the Custom quasi-judicial forums, the Custom Appellate Tribunal and at High Courts of Pakistan.
Drastic reduction in Customs duty over the past few years has created difficulties for the local manufacturing sector. This problem has been exacerbated on account of dumping of goods in the local market by some of the foreign suppliers. Removal of Tariff anomalies involves the intervention of National Tariff Commission (NTC). We provide technical assistance to our clients who need protection from competing imports.
The Government of Pakistan has notified several schemes to boost exports in a fiercely competitive world market including Duty and Tax Remission for Exports (DTRE) Scheme. To avail benefits of these schemes, and to keep abreast of amendments / changes in these schemes, we provide necessary guidance to export houses and the manufacturing sector on these matters including fixation and revision of Duty Drawback rates, temporary importation for re-exports, Export Oriented Units (EOU) scheme and Manufacturing-in-Bond scheme.
The scope of the GST scheme has gradually expanded and is likely to increase further in the coming years. The areas of Sales Tax Law is comparatively new, due to this fact, confusion prevails in its correct interpretation and implementation. Serious omissions and mistakes in availing the adjustment of input / output tax components of Sales Tax sometimes results in penalties and additional taxes. Our aim is to provide timely advice to our clients so that they could avoid harsh penalties and to represent their cases at the forums of Sales Tax quasi-judicial authorities and the Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal.
Collection of Sales Tax on Services has been devolved to the provinces in pursuance of 18th Constitutional Amendment. The provinces of Sindh, Punjab and KPK have already started collecting this tax on a host of services. Service providers need expert opinion on an ongoing basis to comply with the requirements of Sales Tax law on Services including input tax (paid on goods) adjustment. We help the service providing companies in responding to notices issued by Sind Revenue Board (SRB) and Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) and defend their disputed cases involving correct legal interpretation of Sales Tax law on Services.
Difficulties are faced by the registered persons, dealing in excisable goods and services, in complying with the provisions of the Federal Excise Law. Issues pertaining to adjustment of F.E.D., payment of F.E.D. in VAT mode, printing of retail price on imported goods, chargeability of Special Excise Duty (SED) and adjustment thereof etc. have been the crucial issues which require expert hands-on knowledge of the relevant law and procedures. We provide our professional inputs to our valued clients on all the issues pertaining to Federal Excise Law.
International Trade is now governed by the World Trade Organization (W.T.O)'s Agreements. These agreements are meant to help producers of goods and services, importers and exporters to conduct their business as freely as possible. Big export houses and manufacturers need to know the implications of this multilateral trading system, its dispute settlement mechanism, provisions of tariff-bindings, conditions in which countervailing duties and anti-dumping measures can be activated. We provide requisite information to our clients on all these and other issues concerning W.T.O multilateral trading system.
The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), which came into effect on 1st, January 1995 is the most comprehensive multilateral agreement on intellectual property. It deals with each of the main categories of intellectual property rights, establishes standards of protection as well as rules of enforcement. It provides for the application of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism to resolve disputes of member States. By virtue of being a member state of WTO, Pakistan is committed to implement provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. We provide guidance to our clients on all contentious areas of intellectual property i.e. copyright, trademark, geographical indications, industrial designs, patents etc. and provide advice on area which is likely to assume greater importance in the coming years.
Mandatory post clearance audit of imported goods by the Customs and annual audit by Sales Tax authorities results in the issuance of Show-Cause Notice. Successful defence to avoid imposition of additional taxes/penalties needs professional handling of such cases at the original, appellate fora as well as at High Courts.