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Pakistan Tax & Compliance

Sales Tax Advisory in Pakistan the right rate, schedule and regime, before you invoice

Sales tax mistakes are expensive because they repeat on every invoice. Our sales tax advisory in Pakistan answers the questions that decide your liability: which rate and schedule apply, whether a supply is exempt or zero-rated, which province taxes your services, and how withholding and further tax affect your pricing.

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Sales tax advisory

Most sales tax disputes start with a classification question

Whether a product is taxed at the standard rate, a reduced rate, on retail price, at zero or not at all depends on its classification, the schedule it falls in and the conditions attached. Getting that answer right before you invoice avoids years of exposure.

Federal sales tax on goods is charged under the Sales Tax Act, 1990, at the standard rate under section 3 unless a schedule provides otherwise. The Third Schedule taxes specified goods on their printed retail price, the Fifth Schedule zero-rates exports and certain supplies, the Sixth Schedule exempts listed goods, and the Eighth Schedule provides reduced rates, many of them conditional. Classification normally follows the Pakistan Customs Tariff headings, and many reliefs depend on SROs that change during the year. Sales tax on services, in contrast, is charged mainly by the provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory under their own laws, administered by PRA, SRB, KPRA, BRA and, for ICT, FBR.

Advisory questions also arise from further tax on supplies to unregistered persons, sales tax withholding by government bodies and other withholding agents, input tax rules in sections 7, 8 and 8B, integration requirements for Tier-1 retailers, and the treatment of mixed businesses that supply both goods and services. We give written answers that cite the law and the SROs relied on, so you can apply them consistently.

This service answers specific questions and reviews arrangements. For monthly filing, see sales tax compliance. For income tax questions on the same transaction, our tax advisory service covers both sides, and our financial modeling team can show the effect of sales tax on pricing and margins.

A wrong rate on one invoice is a correction. The same wrong rate on every invoice for three years is a demand.
What's included

What our sales tax advisory covers

A fixed fee per question or review, agreed before work starts.

Classification

Tariff heading and schedule for each product.

Rate confirmation

Standard, reduced, retail-price or zero rate confirmed.

Exemptions and SROs

Whether an exemption applies and its conditions.

Province of services

Which authority taxes your services, and where.

Withholding and further tax

Effect of sales tax withholding and further tax.

Input tax rules

Admissible and inadmissible input tax, and limits.

Retailer requirements

Tier-1 status, POS integration and invoicing.

Contract and pricing review

Tax-inclusive or exclusive pricing and contract terms.

Risks we prevent

Sales tax errors we help you avoid

Each of these tends to repeat on every invoice until it is caught.

01

Wrong schedule

Goods taxed under the wrong schedule create short-payment on every sale.

We classify correctly.
02

Conditional relief misused

Many Eighth Schedule rates need conditions to be met.

We check conditions.
03

Wrong province for services

Services taxed by the wrong authority can lead to double tax.

We confirm jurisdiction.
04

Ignoring further tax

Supplies to unregistered buyers can attract further tax under section 3(1A).

We review your buyers.
05

Inadmissible input tax

Claims barred by section 8 are reversed with surcharge.

We review input claims.
06

Outdated SROs

Relief withdrawn by a new SRO or Finance Act is often missed.

We cite current law.
How we work

How sales tax advisory works

Most questions are answered within days.

Free

Discuss

Tell us the product, service or transaction.

Before work starts

Fixed fee

Scope and timing confirmed.

Research

Analyse

Tariff, schedules, SROs and provincial law reviewed.

Delivery

Advise

Written opinion with the law cited.

Follow-up

Implement

Invoices, ERP settings and contracts updated.

Who we work with

Sales tax advisory for

Manufacturers

Classification, rates and input tax.

Importers and distributors

Import stage tax and onward supplies.

Retailers

Tier-1 rules, retail price goods and POS.

Service providers

Provincial services tax and registration.

Exporters

Zero rating and refunds.

Government suppliers

Sales tax withholding on supplies.

Why Finvocates

Why choose Finvocates for sales tax advice

We advise from the same desk that files sales tax returns, so our advice is tested against real filings.

QuickBooksXeroTally ERPSAPOracle

Federal and provincial

Goods and services taxes considered together.

Qualified professionals

ACCA and ICAP Chartered Accountant qualifications and an FBR-registered income tax practitioner.

Legal analysis

LLB-qualified advocate for schedule and SRO interpretation.

Written opinions

Advice you can rely on and show to auditors.

Practical implementation

Help updating invoices and systems.

Clear fixed fees

Agreed per question or review.

FAQs

Sales tax advisory questions we hear most

Have a question that is not here? Send it to us on WhatsApp and we will reply the same day.

How do I know which sales tax rate applies to my product?
Start with the product's Pakistan Customs Tariff classification, then check whether it falls in the Third, Fifth, Sixth or Eighth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, or in an SRO. If none applies, the standard rate under section 3 applies.
What is the difference between exempt and zero-rated?
Exempt supplies under the Sixth Schedule carry no sales tax, and the related input tax generally cannot be claimed. Zero-rated supplies under the Fifth Schedule are taxed at zero, and input tax can usually be claimed or refunded.
Who taxes services in Pakistan?
Mainly the provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory, under their own laws: PRA in Punjab, SRB in Sindh, KPRA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, BRA in Balochistan, and FBR for services in ICT.
What is further tax?
Further tax under section 3(1A) is an additional sales tax charged on certain supplies to persons who are not registered, subject to exclusions in the law.
What are Third Schedule goods?
They are goods on which sales tax is charged on the printed retail price rather than the sale price. The retail price must be printed on the packaging.
Can I claim all the input tax on my purchases?
Not always. Section 8 bars input tax on certain goods and services, and section 8B limits how much input tax can be adjusted against output tax in a period, with the excess carried forward or refunded under the rules.
How is advisory different from sales tax compliance?
Advisory answers specific questions. Our sales tax compliance service handles monthly returns, Annex-C and deposits.
How much does sales tax advice cost?
We charge a fixed fee per question or review, based on complexity. Your first consultation is free.

Not sure how your product or service is taxed?

Tell us what you sell and to whom. We will confirm the rate, schedule and authority, and quote a fixed fee for written advice.

Book your free consultation

This page is general information about our services, not tax, legal or financial advice for your specific situation. Laws, rates and deadlines change with each Finance Act and official notification.