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ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed harsh enforcement measures against the existing filers of income tax returns to impose penalty of Rs 1,000,000 and freeze bank accounts of filers, who would file incorrect or incomplete returns this year.

Sources told Business Recorder that the FBR has proposed extreme measures against the existing filers to restrain filers (incorrect or incomplete returns) from purchasing immovable properties or vehicles and disconnecting their utilities and impose heavy fines to meet tax collection target of September 2024. The measures have yet to be approved by the competent authorities, sources added.

Leading tax advisers have seriously questioned whether such harsh measures would not be misused and punish compliant taxpayers, who would inadvertently commit mistakes in filing of returns?

Failure to block SIMs of non-filers: Cellular cos face the prospect of heavy penalties

When contacted, leading tax expert Dr Ikram ul Haq said that the said policy measures are good, as people have been abusing the law by filing “Nil” returns and also showing “Nil” assets just to avoid higher rates of withholding tax as non-filers. Just to become filer, they are filing such returns which constitute perjury i.e. wrong statement under oath.

It is alarming that the number of nil filers is increasing due to heavy rates of withholding taxes for non-filers of income tax returns.

Besides, action under section 114(A) of the Income Tax Ordinance, the department can also prosecute such wrong declarants under section 192 of the Income Tax Ordinance the as well, Dr Ikram ul Haq added.

It is learnt that the policy measures have been proposed by FBR Member Inland Revenue (Operations) to strengthen enforcement and address tax non-compliance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

Comments

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KU Sep 13, 2024 07:49am
Proves only one thing, people behind desperation n greed usually suffer from primate minds. Threats to existing tax payers but kissing up to retailers/businesses or corrupt-dost scheme.
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Builder Sep 13, 2024 10:21am
They should chase Nil filers but if they start harassing active and compliant tax payers, that would be so unfair.
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Jamal Nasir Sep 13, 2024 07:25pm
Not a healthy approach,To punish ,who are responsible citizens and fulfilling their duties ,rather than to widen the tax net and bring retailers and merchants to tax net.
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Ghulam Qadir Sep 14, 2024 10:06am
It seems like the existing tax payers are easy pray and escape goat for FBR officials for there failure to broaden the tax net.
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ADNAN ALAM Sep 14, 2024 10:26pm
Go on squeezing the salaried class. No courage to tax big shots.
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Ashraf Khan Sep 15, 2024 04:43pm
Filing "nil" to evade income tax and just to become a filer is cheating and criminal whatever may be the reason. I agree with Dr. Ikram ul Haq on this issue.
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Aam Aadmi Sep 18, 2024 10:47am
Our suicidal tendencies will never subside. A sure recipe to make the filers run away. Non-filers will be heartily laughing and enjoying their (non-filer) status.
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