Assistant Tax Manager (Construction & Real Estate)

Mustafa Developers · Islamabad, Pakistan

Here is a refined, comprehensive job description tailored specifically for Mustafa Developers , incorporating the exact construction tax compliance, vendor withholding regimes, and payroll taxation requirements you specified.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Assistant Tax Manager with direct exposure to the real estate and construction sector in Pakistan.

This role is responsible for overseeing end-to-end direct and indirect tax compliance across all active project sites and head office operations. The successful candidate must possess deep, hands-on mastery of construction vendor withholding tax regimes (WHT) , subcontractor and supplier taxation , payroll and executive salary tax structuring , and PRA/FBR statutory reporting .

Working closely with senior finance leadership, project managers, and external legal/tax counsels, you will ensure total compliance, defend the company during assessments/audits, and optimize tax governance across procurement, contracting, and corporate payroll.

Key Responsibilities

1. Construction Vendor & Subcontractor Withholding Taxation

• Supervise, calculate, and ensure 100% compliant Withholding Tax (WHT) deductions on all vendor payments under the Income Tax Ordinance (e.g., Section 153 and related provisions):
• Goods/Supplies: Raw building materials (steel, cement, aggregates, tiles, imported fittings, marble, joinery materials, sanitary ware).
• Services & Subcontracts: Civil works, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), HVAC, grey structure contracts, and interior finishing works.
• Professional Services: Architectural consultations, structural engineering fees, interior styling, and legal retainers.
• Verify the Active Taxpayer List (ATL) status of every supplier, contractor, and daily/weekly labor contractor prior to payment approval, applying correct ATL/Non-ATL withholding rates and exemption limits.
• Manage and reconcile Provincial Sales Tax on Services (PRA / ICT Sales Tax on Services) applicable to construction contracts, labor contracts, and professional consultancies.
• Monitor advance tax payments/collections associated with land, plot, and real estate transfers and registrations (Sections 7E, 236C, 236K, and relevant local municipal charges).
• Ensure prompt generation, filing, and distribution of statutory Withholding Tax Deduction Certificates to all registered vendors and subcontractors.

2. Payroll & Salary Tax Structuring

• Review and verify monthly corporate payroll to ensure exact computation and deduction of Salary Withholding Tax (Section 149) across executive management, site engineers, administrative staff, and site supervisory personnel.
• Structure employee compensation packages, taxable/non-taxable perquisites, vehicle allowances, site allowances, and medical benefits in compliance with prevailing Income Tax Rules.
• Prepare, reconcile, and file Monthly/Annual Withholding Tax Statements (Salary Statements under Section 165 / Rule 44) accurately and on schedule via the FBR Iris portal.

3. Statutory Returns, Filings & Compliance

• Prepare, verify, and submit monthly sales tax returns (FBR & PRA) and withholding tax statements without errors or delays.
• Maintain complete, audit-ready withholding registers, purchase registers, input/output tax reconciliations, and vendor ledgers linked to project cost centers.
• Assist in the preparation and finalization of the company’s Annual Corporate Income Tax Return and audited financial disclosures.
• Monitor ongoing amendments, statutory regulatory orders (SROs), circulars, and annual Finance Acts impacting the construction and real estate sectors.

4. Tax Audits, Notices & Departmental Liaison

• Draft precise, well-referenced replies to show-cause notices, explanation letters, and monitoring inquiries issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA).
• Support internal finance leadership and external tax advocates/counsels during departmental audits, record inspections, and commissioner appeals.
• Implement robust internal tax control mechanisms across the procurement, billing, and accounts payable cycles to prevent disallowances and penalties under Section 21 of the Income Tax Ordinance.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Industry Experience: Minimum 3 to 6 years of active corporate tax experience, with mandatory, demonstrable experience in the Construction, Civil Contracting, or Real Estate Development sectors in Pakistan.
• Education:
• Bachelor’s / Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or related discipline; OR
• Partial qualification / CAF / CMA / ACCA / CA Finalist / LLB (Taxation) is strongly preferred.
• Technical Taxation Expertise:
• In-depth command of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (specifically Sections 149, 153, 236C, 236K, Section 7E, Section 21, and Section 165).
• Thorough understanding of Sales Tax on Services (PRA / ICT Ordinance) as applied to construction contracts, turnkey execution, and labor supply.
• Hands-on proficiency with the FBR Iris Portal , e.pra.punjab.gov.pk , ATL verification tools, and e-CPR generation.
• Accounting & IT Skills: High proficiency in advanced Microsoft Excel (vlookup, pivot tables, tax computation models, reconciliation matrices) and experience working with construction ERP/accounting software.
• Core Competencies: Uncompromising integrity, sharp analytical skills, meticulous attention to contractual and invoice details, and the capability to handle high-value vendor billing under tight operational deadlines.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary package commensurate with industry experience and technical qualification.
• Exposure to high-profile luxury architectural developments and structured corporate governance.
• A professional, focused executive work environment in Islamabad.