SRB pays surprise visits to DHA eateries over complaints

Following social media posts and other online complaints against eateries not complying with the Sindh Sales Tax (SST) on Services Act, 2011, including not issuing proper tax invoices, a Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) team paid surprise visits to various restaurants and cafes located at Sehar Commercial, Khayaban-e-Sehar, DHA, on Saturday.

According to a press release issued by the board, the SRB officers ensured that restaurants were implementing the point of sale (POS) invoicing system and complying with the SST rates applicable on restaurant services.

Sales tax on restaurant services is 15 per cent for cash transactions, and eight per cent for digital payments, except where the SRB has allowed charging 15 per cent SST even on digital payments (a list of such restaurants is available at srb.gos.pk/srb/restaurant-list).

The SRB said they would take strict legal action against eateries found to be suppressing their sales, failing to charge the prescribed SST rates or avoiding integration of their POS system with the SRB’s online system.

The board warned of continuing surprise visits and not sparing the offenders. “The SRB will also ensure the resolution of complaints lodged by taxpayers, and will bring to book any restaurant or cafe which deviates from the procedures to evade the legitimate tax payments to the government,” reads the press release.