FBR issues draft rules for new Export Facilitation Scheme 2021

August 2, 2021: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has notified draft Rules for new Export Facilitation Scheme 2021 which will be effective with effect from 14th August 2021.

This New Export Facilitation Scheme has been approved by Federal Government and passed by Parliament under Finance Act 2021.

This Scheme will run parallel with existing schemes like Manufacturing Bond, DTRE and Export Oriented Schemes for two years.

The existing old schemes shall be phased out in the next two years and will be fully replaced by Export Facilitation Scheme-2021. EFS 2021 Rules can be accessed at the official website of FBR.

The Salient Features of the new EFS-2021 include Minimum documentation and encourages new entrants and SMEs.

Users of this Scheme will include Exporters (Manufacturers cum Exporters, Commercial Exporters, Indirect Exporters), Common Export Houses, Vendors and International Toll Manufacturers while they will be subject to the authorization of inputs by the Collector of Customs and Director-General Input-Output Organization (IOCO).

Inputs include all goods (imported or procured local) for the manufacture of goods to be exported. These include raw materials, spare parts, components, equipment, plant and machinery.

No duty and taxes shall be levied on inputs imported by the authorized users and local supplies of inputs to the authorized users shall be zero-rated.

Through this new Scheme, Common Export House will import inputs duty and tax-free for subsequent sale to the authorized users especially SMEs.

This Scheme has also allowed International Toll manufacturing within Pakistan. Under the said scheme, minimum but necessary documentation and securities based on category and profile of the applicant, user or exporter will be required.

This scheme will encourage new entrants and SMEs. This Scheme will be completely automated under WeBOC and PSW where users of the Scheme and regulators (IOCO, Regulator Collector, PCA etc.) shall be integrated through WeBOC and PSW and communicate through these systems.

The focus of the Scheme is on post-clearance compliance checks and audits. Under this new Scheme, the authorization and utilization period have been enhanced from two years to five years.

Export Facilitation Scheme 2021 shall reduce the cost of doing business and cost of tax compliance, improve ease of doing business, reduce liquidity problems of exporters and shall attract more users and shall ultimately promote exports.

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