KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) restrained the tax department from recovery of Rs27million from Regus MT Khan Centre Karachi Private Limited. The recovery of demand notice was issued by Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue Audit Range-A, Zone-V, Corporate Regional Tax Office.
While hearing the petition, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, also issued notices to the tax authorities and deputy attorney general of Pakistan and directed them to file their para-wise comments on the next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue Audit Range-A, Zone-V, Corporate Regional Tax Office, issued a show cause notice dated 15/12/2016 under Section 122 (9) of the ordinance to the petitioner and alleged that the petitioner’s assessment for tax year 2015 is erroneous insofar as it was prejudicial to the interest of revenue and demanded abovementioned amount in respect of tax year 2015 against the petitioner.
According to the petitioner, being aggrieved, he approached the Commissioner Inland Revenue Appeals-III and filed an appeal along with a stay application which is pending before it, however in the absence of stay order, the petitioner has apprehension of coercive action from tax authorities.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-V, Corporate Regional Tax Office, and Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue Audit Range-A, Zone-V, Corporate Regional Tax Office as respondents, petitioner pleaded with the court to pass an interim order and suspend the impugned demand notice till the final decision of the appeal pending before the appellate forum.