KARACHI: The Customs Court directed investigation officer to complete investigation and submit charge sheet against M/s Shaheen Air International Ltd for not clearing government dues amounting to Rs955,050,000 deducted/withheld from the customers/passengers. The company has failed to e-file sales tax returns till date.
On April 16, 2019, investigation officer submitted first information report before the court and informed that a team authorized by commissioner-IR, Karachi was deputed to recover the government dues and every legal course was adopted to get hold of the revenues, however, the department was unable to recover the same and presently the above taxpayer has closed down its operations and the registered office is found closed.
He further submitted that registered persons’ non-operational fraudster unit has jointly committed the tax fraud by escaping from the premises, closing down the operations and fraudulently avoiding to pay sales tax and federal excise duty. By committing this tax fraud, they have deprived government exchequer of its legitimate revenue to the tune of Rs7,433,869,356 (out of which Rs955,055,000 is recoverable and no stay has ever been granted by the court of law).
He argued that taxpayer has thus violated the provisions of Sales Tax Act, 1990 & Federal Excise Act, 2005 and FIR is lodged accordingly complainant by Irfan Ahmed, inspector Inland Revenue, further, investigation in respect of directors of the company, owners of declared premises, properties of the company are still in progress.
After the hearing court took FIR into its record and directed investigation officer to complete investigation and submit charge sheet within 14 days.