ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to make it mandatory for all National Tax Number (NTN) holders to file income tax returns, The Express Tribune learned on Thursday.
The number of those people who hold NTNs, but don’t file their income tax returns is 1,264,355, sources said.
They said that the FBR was devising a comprehensive plan in this regard which would be presented to the FBR Board-in-Council in its next meeting.
“They’ll be asked to voluntarily file their income tax returns in the first stage. Special FBR teams will be formed in the second stage which will facilitate NTN holders on their doorstep. Camps and kiosks will also be set up by FBR field officers throughout the country,” one source said.
There are 3,164,355 NTN holders in Pakistan. About 1.9 million of them file their income tax returns regularly. There are 149,000 sales taxpayers in the country, but only 15,000 of them have sales tax registration numbers.
The sources said that kiosks would be set up at all public places, markets and chambers of commerce and industries to help NTN holders file their tax returns.
They said that the master index would also be available at these kiosks and camps to help those people who didn’t remember their NTNs.
They said that the tax-to-GDP ratio would increase after the enforcement of this plan. They added that the plan was expected to generate additional revenue of Rs150-200 billion.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2011.
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FBR Board-in-Council members should be given audited accounts of any public quoted company and told to fill out the Income Tax Return.
I can bet 90% of them will not be able to fill out the tax return form including the Chairman. It so difficult and complex tax return form.
In addition this 8-9 page Tax Return form is in English!, what percentage of the population of this country can fleuntly converse and understand english?
AND the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 is in English. Can a common citizen understand this complex law in English?. The baboos in Ministry of Finance should sit down and get their basics right.
Unless FBR changes the law I do not know how this can be enforced.?.
And why FBR has woken up so late on this issue even if the law has to be changed. Return of Income as per law I understand are due on 31 August and 30 September depending on a persons circumstances and income.