PRAL is a public sector company and Government of Pakistan owns it. PRAL is Pakistan Revenue Automation (Private) Limited. Whereas, FBR is Federal Board of Revenue which is premium tax collection agency and regulator of Pakistan.
Their IT experts and developers have also designed IRIS which is an online web portal where taxpayers file income tax and sales tax returns. IRIS has made it easy for tax consultants and tax payers to make compliances.
Table of Contents
PSW (Pakistan Single Window) is single window solution for cross boarder and international trade. Their efforts are behind the automated portal of PSW. Hence, PRAL is contributing towards automation in tax system of Pakistan.
PRAL is providing following services to FBR and other government authorities and bodies.
- Real time verification of ATL (Active in income tax or sales tax) status while withholding taxes on time of making payments to the suppliers, service providers etc.
- Transmission of data to FBR IRIS system when taxes are withheld.
- Auto generation of tax challan
- Identification and verification of taxpayers when taxes are withheld and net payments are made.
- Confirmation of exemptions, tax credits, assessment notices, enforcement orders issued by the Commissioner Inland Revenue.
- Bulk filing of income tax returns and withholding statements and data validation.
- Bulk submission of sales tax invoices and POS integration.
- Calculation of withholding rates in real time.
APIs developed by PRAL
It is clear that tax payers are experiencing many issues. PRAL is striving hard to tackle them. Therefore, PRAL teams have developed different APIs with variety of features. Let’s take a look on APIs.
- Eviv (E-Verify integrated verification service)
- Dexis (Data Exchange & Integration Service)
- PPG (PRAL Payment Gateway)
- eps (E-Proofing Services)
- 0SP (One Verifier – Single place to verify)
- ITRSS (Income Tax Return Submission Service)
- PSB (PRAL Service Bus)
- Easy tax solutions
Eviv (E-Verify integrated verification service)
Companies, brands, larges taxpayers, stated owned enterprises and business individuals are usually withholding agents. Such agents withheld income tax while making payments to their suppliers and service providers. Withheld taxes are calculated as per rates applicable on relevant transactions.
However, there are higher rates for non-filers and lower rates are for filers. ATL status (filer and non-filer status) keeps on changing in real-time. ATL status is confirmed on e.fbr verification portal. Whereas, it is annoying to check active status for each individual transaction.
To resolve this issue, PRAL has developed API. This API is Eviv (E-Verify integrated verification service). Accounting staff just enter NTN or STRN of suppliers to confirm ATL status in real time in their own accounting system or ERP. Eviv has ended this need to switch to e.fbr verification portal for every single transaction. Just enter NTN or STRN in your ERP, get confirmed status. Hurrah! Now quite easy.
NTN is national tax number whereas, STRN is sales tax registration number.
Dexis (Data Exchange & Integration Service)
When businesses withheld taxes, they file withholding statements with FBR on quarterly basis. But suppliers demand for real-time reporting of withheld taxes. Real time reporting helps tax payers to claim refunds and adjust tax liabilities on time. For this purpose, PRAL has developed an API which can be integrated in ERP and IT-system of a business.
Dexis helps to check ATL status in real time and report withholding of taxes. Hence, it is solving problem of reporting of withholding taxes.
PPG (PRAL Payment Gateway)
Now, business are shifting towards automation. Payments are made to suppliers, customers and also FBR. PPG helps to generate income tax bills and sales tax invoices. And customers make payments including sales tax online using unique PSID number. Businesses receive sales tax from customers, then this tax is paid to FBR online.
PPG is integrated on back end with Alternative Delivery Channels i.e. ATMs, Internet Banking, Easy paisa, Jazz cash and over the counter at any commercial bank in Pakistan.
eps (E-Proofing Services)
Eps has powerful features of verification of taxpayers, searching profile of taxpayers, obtaining basic details and NTN verification. Just integrate eps with your ERP or IT system, then enter NTN or CNIC or Incorporation number. So, you can see details of taxpayers on your screen. Now, business are no more required to use e.fbr services.
OSP (One Verifier – Single place to verify)
OSP has the facility of verification of FBR notices, orders, CPRs and exemption certificates. OSP gets integrated with the IT system of taxpayers. On one end, OSP is connected with FBR IT systems and it is connected with the taxpayer system on the other end. And taxpayers can verify FBR correspondences like orders, notices, SROs, circulars and exemption certificates etc. while in its office.
ITRSS (Income Tax Return Submission Service)
However, IRIS is available 24/7 to file tax returns and withholding statements. ITRSS is another API or e-service of PRAL. It allows business enterprises to submit their income tax returns, sales tax returns and withholding statements directly from their accounting systems and ERPs. This API performs validations, and calculations before return submission.
PSB (PRAL Service Bus)
Retailers are required to integrate POS with FBR system. But not all retailers are required. There are specific retailers. PRAL service bus is a solution for it. Just install API in your system. Integrate it with your point of sale (POS). Then FBR system starts fetching invoices in real time from your systems.
Easy tax solutions
FBR collects more than 50 percent of revenue from withholding of taxes. Tax rates vary from transaction to transaction. If tax payer is on ATL, rates are lower whereas, rates are higher when tax payer is not active. Withholding agents cross check rates while deducting taxes. It may result in errors. Easy tax solutions has solved this problem. Just calculate taxes on clicks.
How to get APIs of PRAL
PRAL has technical department of professionals which support for installation, implementation and configuration of APIs. You can contact PRAL via email and helpline numbers:
- PRAL Landline: (+92) 51-9259435 (+92) 51-9257428
- PRAL help line (+92) 051-111-772-772
- FBR help email: helpline@fbr.gov.pk
- FBR and PRAl online helpline portal: https://help.fbr.gov.pk/
Wrapping up
Let’s conclude our topic. PRAL is one of the leading companies in revenue automation in Pakistan. But tax payers have no awareness on APIs of PRAL. Earlier, we have discussed issues faced by the taxpayers in this blog. APIs have solved all such problems. PRAL is partnering with IT solution providers to integrate its APIs with IT systems of taxpayers.
Don’t forget to share this blog on social media and with your friends. So, the people have awareness of powerful APIs of PRAL.