Huzaima Bukhari “It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.”—Andrew Jackson (1829-37) 7th US president.      In his letter written to the newly appointed Governor to Egypt, Maalik Al-Ashtar, Caliph Hazrat Ali (AS) wrote valuable words of wisdom for good governance to...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq The primary function of a tax system is to raise revenue for the governments at various levels, in the case of Pakistan, federal and provincial, for their public expenditure as well as for local authorities and similar public bodies. Thus, the first goal in development strategy as regards taxation policy is to...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq Assignment of a tax means transfer of taxation power from a higher level to a lower level government. Taxation power includes right to levy tax, collect tax and appropriate the proceeds from such tax. Thus, there can be three interpretations of assignment of a tax. Firstly, higher-level government may levy and collect...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq In the British India, Income-tax Appellate Tribunal was established on January 25, 1941. After independence, this institution was retained by India and Pakistan as such, except that we changed the nomenclature to Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) on October 28, 2009 through a Presidential Ordinance in the wake of...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari “The poverty of the people is the actual cause of the devastation and ruination of a country, and the main cause of the poverty of the people is the desire of its ruler and officers to amass wealth and possessions, whether by fair or foul means”—Hazrat Ali (AS) Nahjul Balagha Since Pakistan became...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari “The Constitution of Medina also known as the Charter of Medina (“Covenant of Medina”), was drawn up on behalf of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shortly after his arrival at Medina (then known as Yathrib) in 622AD (or 1 AH), following the Hijra from Mecca.”—Wikipedia Many articles and news items are available on the dream...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq Civilized governments all over the world appreciate those who collect taxes on their behalf for the well-being of their fellow countrymen. Their services are also compensated allowing them to withhold a percentage of collection as incentive/compensation to meet expenses incurred by them. In Pakistan, the converse is practiced as the withholding agents...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The adoption of Finance Bill 2019 on June 28, 2019 by National Assembly by majority vote of 176 to 146, included many legal amendments that could not have been made part of Money Bill as per law laid down by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Finance Act, 2019...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq To be the premier body providing effective institutional support to members and promoting convergence of interests with government, using taxation as a tool for the nation’s economic advancement; and to attain the highest standard of technical and professional competency in revenue law and practice supported by an effective secretariat—Mission...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq Our existing tax system, which has been proposed to be further unjust and oppressive through Finance Bill 2019, is indeed highly complex and manipulative. For example, the Finance Bill 2019 proposes to tax property income beyond certain limits at higher rate as a separate block on gross basis up...Read More