The FBR has formed two committees to oversee actions under Sections 37A and 40B of the Sales Tax Act. These panels, which include business community representatives, aim to ensure fairness and transparency, address grievances, and build trust with taxpayers.
Big news! FBR has quietly enabled instant active taxpayer status for non-filers & late-filers! 🎉 File your 2025 tax return (July 2024-June 2025) with no fees, and become active in 2-3 hours. This unannounced shift bypasses previous deadlines, offering immediate relief for urgent transactions!
IMF demands Pakistan registers 50k more sales taxpayers to abolish 4% additional sales tax. FBR faces backlash over expanded arrest powers & cash transaction penalties from businesses. Govt claims Rs455B extra tax from retail. SIFC intervenes amidst protests.
Pakistan’s tax system is under scrutiny: an ADB report warns that despite more filers, income tax-to-GDP remains stagnant. The focus on quantity over quality, high compliance costs, and an untamed informal sector are highlighted as key issues, urging simpler reforms.
FBR successfully recovered Rs7.81 billion in penalties from non-filers over the past five tax years, signaling intensified efforts to enforce tax compliance. Minister Bilal Azhar Kayani shared details, highlighting increased withholding tax rates and aggressive recovery mechanisms.
FBR reports a big jump in retail tax collection, but experts question the figures and definitions used amidst ongoing tax reforms.
PM Shehbaz’s govt continues to hide parliamentarians’ tax details. Since Jan 2022, no tax directories published, raising concerns about transparency & accountability. This abandonment of a key initiative, once hailed for openness, erodes public trust.
SRB’s new Notification SRB-3-4/44/2025 further amends Sales Tax Rules for Online Business Integration. It targets restaurants (hotel-based, multi-branch, mall-based, online platforms, high turnover) & certain digital/banking services. Aims for enhanced digital compliance.
Sindh mandates tax invoices & 3% sales tax for property rent services. Construction & ready-mix concrete sectors can opt for 8% reduced rate via SRB portal. Aims for transparency & compliance.
FBR’s new PIN system (S.R.O. 1212(I)/2025) requires a Pakistani mobile for verification, blocking non-resident tax filings. This creates an impossible hurdle as FBR lacks foreign number support. Also, new wealth statement rules demand asset valuation data.