Online VAT returns made mandatory for 11 sectors

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made online submission of VAT returns mandatory for 11 sectors, including cigarettes, medicines, mobile phones and banking.
The VAT Wing of the NBR issued an order in this regard on Sunday.
The sectors are cigarettes, mobile phones, MS products, medicines, beverages, cement, tiles, paints and varnishes, insurance, banking and non-banking services, and mobile banking services.
According to the NBR order, exercising the powers conferred under sub-section (5) of Section 64 of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, and Rule 118(a) of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Rules, 2016, online submission of returns through the NBR’s eVAT portal has been made mandatory for manufacturers of the specified products and suppliers of the specified services.
If any registered person supplies any of the above-mentioned products or services alongside other products or services, the order will also apply to that person.
The order further stated that any previous NBR orders regarding mandatory online submission of returns will be deemed cancelled following the issuance of this order.
The NBR has also reserved the right to add or remove sectors from the list at any time.
The order will take effect immediately.