(Islamabad: 17^th January, 2020):  With reference to taxes applied on the recharge / reload of prepaid balance, it is stated that Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) are deducting only Withholding tax and General Sales Tax / Federal Excise Duty on the pre-paid recharge / reload after restoration of taxes by the honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan from April 2019.

On the recharge of Rs. 100, balance provided to the user is Rs. 88.889 (and not Rs. 76 as reported on the social media) after deduction of Rs. 11.111 against withholding tax @ 12.5%.

GST @19.5% is applied on per call, SMS, and data usage basis. When a user consumes its remaining balance of Rs. 88.889, a total of Rs. 14.505 as GST is charged. Due to lack of clarity on the deduction of GST in addition to WHT, mobile subscribers are assuming that CMOs are charging well above applicable taxes, which is not correct.

Furthermore, PTA has fixed a ceiling on call setup charges @ Rs. 0.15 per call. PTA is vigilant about the rates / tariffs being charged by CMOs and action will be initiated on any reported incidence of charging above the published tariffs and applicable taxes in accordance with the law.

 

Khurram Ali Mehran

Director (PR)