Grassroot committees to help implement new VAT laws

The government is going to form committees at divisional and district levels to help implement the new VAT law from July this year.

The Internal Resources Division of the finance ministry has issued a notice on formation of the committees to be headed by divisional commissioners.

Similar committees will also be formed at district level, to be chaired by deputy commissioners, to help implement the law.

The committees will work to create awareness among businesses and common people about the benefit of the new law, said a senior official of the IRD. The move clears uncertainty regarding implementation of the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act 2012 from July 1.

The IRD notice said the committees will work alongside the officials of the VAT department of the National Board of Revenue.

The 18-member committees will include deputy inspectors general of police, chief executive officers of city corporations, deputy commissioners, representatives of businesses chambers and income tax commissioners.

The committees will also inform the NBR if they come across any problem in the implementation of the law.

The IRD also said the panels will provide directions to hold VAT registration and return submission fairs and take necessary measures to observe the first day of July as the VAT Law Implementation Day.