PESHAWAR: Members of the business community have urged the government and Federal Board of Revenue to widen tax network instead of introducing new taxes, and take proactive initiatives to simplify the procedure.
They made these remarks during an awareness session on ‘Tax Culture and Taxpayer Facilitation’ organised in collaboration with FBR Tax Facilitation Wing at the Chamber House.
KP businessmen, despite challenging situation, want to continue their role in documented economy but cumbersome tax-system, and allied issues were making them hard to register in the tax-net, the speakers said.
The session was chaired by SCCI SVP Muhammad Nadeem while Secretary Tax Education and Facilitation, FBR Muhammad Mutiur Rehman, Second Secretary (Tax Facilitation) Abdul Rehman and Javed were the keynote speakers.
Traders highlighted several hiccups and irritants, including difficult tax procedures, navigating digital filing systems, managing compliance timeliness and interpreting fiscal documentation and called upon the Federal Board of Revenue to take tangible measures to address all these issues and simplify the whole procedure.
They emphasised that tax authorities need to talk openly to eliminate a sense of fearlessness among the business community that would increase understanding and restore/boost the confidence of businesspeople.
Muhammad Nadeem emphasised awareness, guidance and practical support to businesspeople that would assist to broaden the tax-base and many people can contribute to the national economy and growth.
SCCI SVP mentioned the KP businessmen’s ordeals, stating that trade and commercial activities have been slowed down due to various reasons, especially high logistic cost, instability, lawlessness and other constraints and stressed issues must be addressed to ease difficulties of businessmen and to flourish business, trade and economy.
Earlier, Mutiur Rehman said that FBR has a zero-tolerance policy for misbehaviour with traders. He assured the business community concerns on digital integration deadline would be taken up with high ups and the issue would be addressed promptly.
He urged SCCI to play a role in connecting taxpayers with the FBR facilitation wing to mutually address the issues.
He requested that the check list for taxpayers should be uploaded to a website for taxpayer ease. He assured that recommendations of SCCI will be fully incorporated in the upcoming fiscal year budget.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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