ISLAMABAD: After cricketers in Pakistan found themselves in hot waters for their tax filings, the Pakistan cricket team requested the finance minister to direct the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to collect outstanding taxes of cricketers at a flat rate of 10 per cent.
National team captain Misbahul Haq along with the Test cricketer Azhar Ali met with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on behalf of the national team to discuss matters pertaining to their taxes at the ministry of finance on Wednesday.
Misbah thanked Dar for removing cricketers from professional services, noting it would provide major relief to the cricketers in the current fiscal year.
Arguing that cricketers only earn money over a period of five to six years – when they play international cricket, they do not earn reasonable earnings for the remainder of their careers. Misbah urged the minister that they should not be placed in the category of professional services.
Appreciating the imposition of flat tax rate of 10 per cent on cricketers for the current fiscal year, Misbah presented the case of clearing pending tax returns of cricketers for the past four years at the flat rate of 10 per cent.
Dar, while stressing on the need for people to pay their taxes, assured the cricketers that genuine concerns will be addressed so that they can focus more on their professional responsibilities.
The meeting was also attended by FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa, Advisor to the Finance Minister Rana Assad Amin and senior officials of the ministry.
COMMENTS (4)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
-Sultan-Mohammed-Khan-Mengal1632685896-3/Lt-Col-(retired)-Sultan-Mohammed-Khan-Mengal1632685896-3-270x192.webp)
On one hand on the request of Misbah ul haq, Mr Dar has removed the cricketers from the professional category & on the other hand by the same breadth Mr Dar is emphasizing on the criketers to focus on their professional responsibilities....what contradictions ?
I really think that Misbah has gone about in a very professional way in addressing tax concerns on behalf of all cricketers.
Cricketers should know that there is no such thing as free lunch as cricketers earn enough money and are amongst the riches lot. They are paid salary and get good amount of money through advertisements.
This is surely testing time for the Finance Minister, as last week he was making hue and cry about cartel in industrial and others sectors naming 10-12 sectors in his written statement in response to a query from Shireen Mazari.
Mr.Dar be fair to other tax payers and take firm stance on the matter or else, show your guts in announcing 10 pct tax on all income. Corporate tax structure should remain unchanged.
No one is above law of the country !