ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will publish the Active Taxpayers’ List (ATL) for Tax Year 2020 on 1st March, 2021 in accordance with the provisions of Rule 81B of Income Tax Rules, 2002. Presently, FBR’s Active Taxpayers List (ATL) is linked with income tax returns for Tax Year 2019. The Active Taxpayer List (ATL) is a central record of online Income Tax Return filers for the previous Tax Year. ATL is published every financial year on the 1st March and is valid up to the last day of February of the next financial year.

A person on the ATL can avail many benefits. They are not subjected to withholding tax on cash withdrawals, other banking transactions, payment of fee to educational institutions etc. Similarly, for such persons, tax on imports, dividends, goods, services & contracts, profit on debt, prize & winnings, purchase of motor vehicles, purchase and sale of property etc. is withheld at a lesser rate.

ATL will include the persons who have filed income tax returns for tax year 2020 within the due date or the dates extended by the concerned Commissioner Inland Revenue. Subsequently, ATL shall be updated on weekly basis every Sunday at 2400 hours. ATL is available on FBR’s website as well as Tax Asaan App. ATL status of individuals can also be checked by typing message “ATL (space) 13 digits Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC)” and sending to 9966. For checking ATL status of AOP or a Company one will have to type “ATL (space) 7 digits National Tax Number (NTN)” and sending to 9966.

Persons who have filed income tax returns after the due date or extended dates have to pay a surcharge for inclusion in ATL. Companies will have to pay surcharge of Rs. 20,000, AOPs 10,000 and surcharge for Individuals will be Rs. 1000 for inclusion in ATL.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021