FBR obtains data of over 18,000 potential taxpayers

F.P. Report

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has acquired data of more than 18,000 potential taxpayers in an attempt to increase the number of direct taxpayers and collect more revenue.

“As directed, BTB (Broadening of Tax Base) units have acquired data (of) 16,000 non-registered salary individuals, 2,000 cases of non-registered property owners (and) 200 non-registered public sector officers,” read a notification issued by the FBR on Thursday.

The FBR has assigned the commissioner of BTB Zone, Regional Tax Office-II, Karachi the task of recovering due taxes in 45 days. But first the FBR would issue notices to tax evaders under Section 114 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 to compel them to deposit taxes.

However, if the tax evaders continued to avoid the payment of taxes, the potential recovery will be made by freezing (their) bank accounts, the notification read. The FBR has acquired their data under the strategy for broadening of the tax base – Karachi for en masse enforcement, it added.

The tax authority collected Rs1.78 trillion in first half of the current fiscal year 2018-19, which was Rs172 billion short of the target. The share of direct tax collection declined to 37%.

The FBR on March 4 decided to bring educational institutes into tax net across the country. The FBR said tax would be collected from school, Montessori school, college and tuition centre.

It said special teams would raid at unregistered schools. While, an awareness campaign would also be launched for unregistered educational institutes, it further added.