PM Imran commends FBR on crossing 'historical milestone' in tax collection

This reflects the broad-based economic revival spurred by the current government's policies, the premier adds.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday commended the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for crossing a 'historic milestone' by collecting more than Rs4 trillion in taxes for the first time in any fiscal year.

"During Jul(2020)-May(2021) our collections reached Rs.4143 bn and still counting," PM Imran said in a tweet adding that the tax collection is "18% higher than same period last (fiscal) year."

The premier added that such performance reflected the broad-based economic revival spurred by the current government's policies.

I commend efforts of FBR in crossing historic milestone of Rs 4,000 bn in any yr for first time ever. During Jul-May our collections reached Rs.4143 bn & still counting - 18% higher than same period last yr. This reflects broad-based economic revival spurred by govt policies.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 29, 2021

Earlier it was reported that the tax collection body maintained a steady momentum and received Rs3.78 trillion in taxes in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year but its dependence on indirect taxes further increased to 64% of the total receipts.

Provisional results for July-April showed that the FBR collected Rs143 billion more than its revised target. The collection was almost equally made at the import stage where nearly one out of every two rupees was collected.

Read More: FBR exceeds tax collection target

The FBR collected Rs3.78 trillion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year as against Rs3.32 trillion in the same period of the last fiscal year, registering a growth rate of nearly 14%, according to the provisional results.

The collection was Rs460 billion higher as compared to the same period of last fiscal year.

The FBR managed to exceed the sales tax and customs duty collection targets, but missed the targets of income tax and federal excise duty.

The increasing collection at the import stage and growing reliance on indirect taxes remained the two distinctive features of the FBR’s revenue performance in the first 10 months of current fiscal year. Indirect taxes have also contributed to higher prices, including those of sugar and edible oil.

Out of Rs3.78 trillion, an amount of Rs1.72 trillion was generated at the import stage on account of income tax, sales tax and customs duty. This was equal to 46% of the total taxes pooled by the FBR in the current fiscal year.

The 10-month collection was Rs143 billion more than its target of around Rs3.64 trillion. However, the Rs3.78 trillion collection is on the basis of a downward revised annual target of Rs4.7 trillion. Parliament had approved the Rs4.963 trillion tax collection target for the FBR.

The FBR also paid Rs195 billion in tax refunds as compared to Rs118 billion paid last year. The government had withdrawn the zero-rating facility for the export-oriented sectors, which became a reason for the higher share of indirect taxes and repayment of refunds.