I stopped reading after point number 2 which states that 80k out of 95k Sindh Government employees do not file their tax returns. Please understand that 'NOT FILING TAX RETURNS' is not a problem, really, because the tax of these and all other Government officers is deducted at source. All those who are in employment have their tax deducted at source; filing returns is generally done to claim some tax return but since nobody expects FBR to return any tax claims, nobody bothers to file returns. Basically, not filing a tax return is equal to not bothering to claim any tax benefit that one may be eligible for after paying all their due taxes.
Another point that I have now noticed is:
- Recent data collected by FBR and NADRA shows there are 53 million people who own property worth of billions but they pay no tax.
How is this possible? How can 53 Million people own properties worth Billions? And since it appears to be an accumulative amount, what is the point of including people who own properties which are not worth paying taxes over?
FBR asks 76,000 Sindh govt officials to pay income tax by August 2
BY
AFTAB CHANNA , (LAST UPDATED JULY 17, 2019)
KARACHI: With an aim to enhance revenue generation and bring non-filers into the tax net, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has instructed at least 76,000 officials working with various departments of the Sindh government to pay their income taxes by August 2, 2019,
Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to well-placed sources, there are more than 93,000 officials of the Sindh government working in different departments and drawing monthly salaries from the Sindh accountant general.
In this regard, FBR Inland Revenue Commissioner Atif Ali has written a letter to Sindh Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah to ensure compliance on the filing of tax returns by the said officials.
“Your kind attention is invited to the fact that this office obtained data of employees working in Sindh Government from the Accountant General. According to the data, around 93,000 employees are earning taxable salaries while only 17,000 are filing income returns”, the letter states, a copy of which is available with
Pakistan Today.
“Section 114 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 requires every individual earning a taxable income to furnish his/her tax returns, but it has been noted that most of the employees remain complacent on the plea that there has been deducted on salary, so the filing of return is not mandatory, which is a misconception. It is also noted with concern that even BS-20 officers are not filing their return. You are therefore requested to issue directions to all officer/officials working under your control to fulfill their legal obligation by the filing of return of income for Tax Year 2018,” the letter further states.
“Kindly note that last date for filing tax returns for the year 2018 has been extended to August 2, 2019. This office shall be pleased to provide facilitation/technical assistance for online filing of returns by employees of Sindh government”, the letter concludes.
Recent data collected by FBR and NADRA shows there are 53 million people who own property worth of billions but they pay no tax.
FBR, NADRA create web-portals to make asset data of 53 million people online
ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday launched two web-portals, containing information about the assets of around 53 million people, with an objective to facilitate citizens to know about what of their data was available with the government and make corrections accordingly if required.
This was stated by State Minister for Revenue, Hammad Azhar and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Syed Shabbar Zaid while addressing a press conference here.
Another point that I have now noticed is:
- Recent data collected by FBR and NADRA shows there are 53 million people who own property worth of billions but they pay no tax.
How is this possible? How can 53 Million people own properties worth Billions? And since it appears to be an accumulative amount, what is the point of including people who own properties which are not worth paying taxes over?[/QUOTE]
Top officials from FBR and National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) were also present on the occasion.
Hammad Azhad congratulated FBR for being successful in data integration process, which he said the past governments had failed despite tall claims during the past decade.
He said that it was initial data and would be enriched with the passage of time, adding that currently the data was based on property, bank accounts, utility bills, travels while the FBR had also done plaza mapping to data collection.
Speaking on the occasion, Shabbar Zaidi, however clarified that this information would not be base for any tax assessment as its main objective was to inform the people what of their asset information was available with the government so that they may correct their information.
“The Information has nothing to do with taxability,” he clarified.
The Chairman said that the portal would be helpful for people as they might know what information was available with the government and could correct their return filing data if incorrect.
Secondly, he asserted, it had been made fully secure and no other person can access information, adding that if needed, the security could be further enhanced.
The ultimate objective of the portals is to bridge the gap and provide information to the people at their doorsteps, he added.
The portals are foolproof and only genuine individual could access his/her personal asset information as the questions to be generated by the system would be based on the personal information of the individual, he added.
He said the information available on both the portals—one created by NADRA and another by the FBR itself— could be obtained by following the login process and after replying to some system generated questions.
The NADRA portal could be accessed by paying fees of Rs 500 however, the FBR portal could be accessed by sending individual CNIC No to 9966, after which a system based code would be generated and sent on the mobile phone of the user which could be utilized for accessing the FBR portal.
He said that this was initial information that had been put on the portal and the NADRA and FBR would keep on updating it.
He said that the FBR website had been made simple and was developed keeping in mind the low literacy rate.
In addition, the portal is centralized to reduce human intervention and ensure that nobody could temper or misuse it.
Information of both filers and non-filers would be available on portals.
To a question, he said that the last date of Asset Declaration Scheme would not be extended as Pakistan was going to enter into International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the board of which is scheduled to meet on July 3 to consider three-year Extended Fund Facility Programme.
To another question, the Chairman said that FBR did not write letters to the bank account holders having over 0.5 million amount in their accounts and clarified that the banks at their own had written letter to trace out Benami Accounts.