The federal government has assured the business community that it will abolish withholding tax (WHT) on banking transactions for income tax return filers. This will be announced in the upcoming finance bill on January 23, 2019.
This was stated by the acting president of Karachi’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Khurram Shahzad, while referring to a meeting of KCCI’s delegation with Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar held in Islamabad.
Khurram Shahzad said that KCCI’s recommendations for the forthcoming Finance Bill were extensively discussed during the said meeting in which the Minister, while assuring to incorporate numerous suggestions, agreed to abolish withholding tax (WHT) on cash withdrawal from bank accounts for return filers with a view to encourage ease of doing business.
Withholding tax on financial transactions was imposed with an aim to increase compliance and broadening of the tax base. But this decision had a negative impact on bank deposits. To handle this situation, the government reduced the WHT charged on non-cash transactions from 0.6 percent to 0.4 percent and tax on filers remained at 0.3 percent.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) strongly recommended reducing the rate from 0.3 percent to 0.1 percent in the budget for 2018-19 but this was not included in the budget. The deposit-to-M2 ratio has continued to slide during FY2017 and FY2018, which indicates that the impact of withholding tax is still hindering the movement of cash back into the banking system.
SBP said in the annual report for the fiscal year 2017/18 that the private business deposits as a percentage of total deposits declined from 27.6 percent to 25 percent after imposition of the WHT on banking transactions.
The government imposed withholding tax on cash withdrawal through Finance Act 2005 in order to discourage cash economy. Banks are obliged to collect advance tax at the rate of 0.4 percent from non-filers and 0.3 percent for filers on non-cash banking transactions such as transfer of funds through demand draft, pay order, cash deposit receipt cheques/clearing, online transfers, direct debit, telegraphic transfers etc, which are in excess of Rs. 50,000 per day.
That is rediculous… ProPK should improve their content and Statndard. The information should be verified before publishing.
WHT on non Cash transaction is already not applicable.. Its applicable on non filers only.. This dumps the title of this article… One thing that is not applicable will be ended… Round of applause ..
On the other hand wht on cash transaction is applicable to both filer and non filer. But the rate is also already different for both.
WHT in Non Cash is aplicable on Filers and Non Filers both. I am a filer (confirmed from Bank) yet on ATM withdrawal I am charged WHT.
Dear Cash withdrawal from ATM is a cash transaction. its not a non Cash Transaction. That is my point. the article writer is not aware of the basics of these types.
While publishing any article please ensure that you provide correct information.
Bhai ap k article likhta kon hai…maltab kuch pata nahi ap ko aur keyboard pe beth k article likh dete ho wo b aik aisi site jis ki repute bhi ho…Aamir sb ye umeed nahi thi ap k writers se. Non cash transactions pe to tax pehlai hi nahi hai filers k liye…ap ka writer khud confused hai kabhi cash ka zikar shuru kr deta hai kabhi non-cash ka. Kamazkm economy aur banking pe article likhtai huvai dhiyan kiya karain…jo dil main ata hai likh dete hain.
they use content writer 500 ke 500 words :D
Lagta hai Content Writer ney kabi NON Cash Transaction nhi ki .. Dhummb