Illusion or truth?
Huzaima Bukhari “Illusion is needed to disguise the emptiness within.”—Arthur Erickson (Canadian architect) According to Andrew Schneider, “Truth is a perception of depth in which we perceive more of what is there, while illusion is a superficial perception of reality.”…
“Services” & immovable property income taxation
Flagrant Constitutional violations Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The taxation of “services” mentioned in section 153(1)(b) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 [“the Ordinance”] with effect from tax year 2020 is subjected to “minimum tax regime” in cases where…
Unconstitutional income taxation
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The coalition government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in its very first budget for finance year 2019-20, through Finance Act, 2019, imposed ‘minimum tax regime’ for certain class of taxpayers along with tax on normal…
Taxing the poor, favouring the rich
Dr. Ikramul Haq The shrinking share of direct taxes in overall collection is a serious cause of concern. It is now well-established that there is a direct link between growing poverty in Pakistan and distortion in tax base since 1991-92,…
Professionally qualified bride
Huzaima Bukhari “It is not the hand that rocks the cradle that rules the world; it is the woman that holds the keys to the kingdom”—Shannon L. Alder A matrimonial agent questions a typical Pakistani wannabe mother-in-law (Mrs. X) wanting…
Taxation: Doctrine of mutuality
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq It is an established principle that what is not “income” under the income tax law cannot be taxed, and where there is no sale of “goods” or providing and rendering of services between two…
Guilty, until proven innocent?
Huzaima Bukhari “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow…
FBR’s quest for in-house cleaning
Dr. Ikramul Haq According to a Press release, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued terms of references (ToRs) for Integrity Management Cell (IMC). According to the ToRs, the IMC will be headed by a grade 21/22 officer of Inland Revenue Service…
To act or not to act!
Huzaima Bukhari “One of the things about acting is it allows you to live other people’s lives without having to pay the price”—Robert De Niro For human beings, the mere thought of being deprived of entertainment is enough to cast…