Late tax returns: Govt warns shopkeepers of fines
ISLAMABAD: The government has warned shopkeepers that failure to file returns under the Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme after the deadline will attract a fine of Rs10,000 in the first month, Rs25,000 in the second month and Rs50,000 in the third month, as the scheme has so far attracted 10,000 shopkeepers, including 1,929 new taxpayers.
This was disclosed at a review meeting on the Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for shopkeepers, chaired by Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani.
Nearly 10,000 shopkeepers have signed up for the Asan Tax Scheme in its first month.
The meeting was informed that 10,000 shopkeepers had joined the scheme within a month of its launch and were at various stages of filing returns. Of these, 1,929 were new registrants who had not previously been part of the tax system.
So far, 428 shopkeepers have filed their returns under the Easy Tax Scheme, with participants belonging to both small and large cities across the country.
The meeting further informed that shopkeepers who fail to pay taxes under the Easy Tax Scheme or through the regular procedure after the prescribed deadline would be liable for penalties.
During the briefing, the officials said penalties would be imposed after the deadline on those failing to pay taxes under the Asan Tax Scheme or through the regular procedure.
A penalty of Rs10,000 would be imposed in the first month after the deadline, Rs25,000 in the second month and Rs50,000 in the third month.
Under the scheme, retailers with annual sales of up to Rs200 million can opt for a fixed tax equivalent to one per cent of declared annual sales, subject to a minimum annual tax of Rs25,000. Withholding tax already deducted through utility bills and other sources would be adjustable against the tax liability.
The minister directed the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and FBR to immediately address technical objections raised by shopkeepers and lawyers regarding the implementation of the scheme.
He also directed the authorities to provide FBR plates to shopkeepers who had filed their returns as soon as possible.
“Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme is a unique scheme for shopkeepers which is not available to any other business segment,” Kayani said, adding that more shopkeepers were expected to become part of the scheme prepared specifically for them.
He said there was now no reason or justification for shopkeepers to remain non-filers following the introduction of the Easy Tax Scheme.
The minister directed traders and FBR officers to ensure daily contact to resolve implementation-related issues. The meeting also decided to further strengthen engagement with tax bars and lawyers.
Trader representatives assured the FBR of their full cooperation in implementing the scheme, while tax commissioners briefed the meeting on their engagement with tax bars in their respective jurisdictions.
The meeting was informed that an Urdu-language information booklet on the Easy Tax Scheme had been issued, explaining the new scheme, the existing procedure for filing returns and penalties applicable after the filing deadline.
Trader representatives described the Easy Tax Scheme as a good initiative but noted that, being a new system, it would take some time to create awareness among shopkeepers.
The meeting was attended by trader leaders Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry, Member Strategic Transformation Dr Hamid Atiq, Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal, and senior FBR officials, while chief commissioners and commissioners from across the country participated through video link.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026