We were able to identify 43 million individuals who could be added to the tax net- Shaukat Tareen, an alternate to higher power tariffs.

[N.Siddiqui]

BRR: How do you grade PTI’s performance on tax collection and widening the tax base?

ST: No private sector individual or enterprise wants to deal with FBR. If everyone is critical of an organization, there must be something wrong with it. The first step, therefore, must be to overhaul the structure of FBR completely. It must be made more independent, lean, and public friendly.

Pakistan only has 3.5 million tax payers. During our tenure, we made genuine efforts to study and improve broadening efforts. Artificial Intelligence was deployed through collaboration with NADRA. Using database from both organizations, we were able to identify 43 million individuals who could be added to the tax net. The data was going to be uploaded on FBR’s portal in April 2022. I advised FBR that if 43 million new taxpayers are added all at once, the system might choke. Instead, the activity should span over a year and a half to ensure sustained results.

An interview with Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin, Senator Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

‘Pakistan’s economy can no longer be rescued without urgent debt restructuring’ During its first tenure, Pakistan...

www.brecorder.com

 

[N.Siddiqui]

If 43 million new tax payers were added in the tax net, mostly middle class to middle upper, the taxes added in the electricity bills could have been avoided and wouldn't have affected the lowest strata of the society, with an alternate plan.

Like poor, daily wage earners, mazdoors who barely gets about 15, 18 to 20 thousand Rs. are getting a bill which is equal to their monthly earning. This is inhuman and not sustainable.

Looks as though there aren't many sensible, intelligent, economic experts with compassion are there in the new cabinet, just as in the earlier PDM govt. of crooks and corrupts.

 

[Zhukov]

With all due respect, FBR was given full Authority during PTI tenure, And they literally became Bullies.Sending notices of back to back tax recoveries for pervious 5 years. Penalizing corporate sector all of a sudden for so many Existing compliance issues that were never practiced by Market.
Specially the Witholding Income Tax crap. The rules are so complex and difficult to follow, Most small businesses who cant afford qualified professionals and who even try to do full complance will make errors. And then FBR will send hefty fines on NON COMPLIANCE.

I still remember the 1st year when they started the push to get people to file the returns, The Tax return form for salaried people that year was very simple not requiring Wealth statement and details of assets to be attached and only total amount of net assets was required, simplifying process for salaried people. So a lot of people started filling. But next year they changed the form back to the normal with that required Details of assets form.

Things like these make people loose faith in FBR. And all that can be avoided by not filing.
The income Tax Law is awefully complex. Just Paying the tax in the Right way is a total Pain in the A** let alone paying tax at all.

They should understand the core issue. Simplify the Laws. Make it easy to comply. Recover tax at the right time instead of sending notices 5 years later. Reform government institutions involved with Taxation. They are all Bullys and Corrupt. Like everyother government institute.

 

[Azad_ Kashmiri]

The mere basis of any country to generate income for services is TAX. But Pakistani’s either in Pakistan or here in UK do not want to pay tax but always want something free from the government. In the UK, its always people from Pakistan who play this game. Cash in hand jobs and businesses, lie about income, fleece as much they can in state benefits. Of course, they been taught by the best; Dogfather Nawaz and @FOOLS_NIGHTMARE