KARACHI: A large number of potential taxpayers are approaching the income tax department for compliance. The department has also advised to all those to whom notices have been issued to comply voluntarily by filing their income tax returns along with tax due to avoid any legal action.
The Regional Tax Office (RTO) has declared that in order to streamline the work of tax base expansion, the Chief Commissioner, RTO, Karachi, Dr Muhammad Irshad has initiated an appropriate action plan under his personal supervision with a team of young, dedicated and efficient officers and officials headed by Dr Faiz Illahi Memon, Commissioner Inland Revenue to mainly focus on new taxpayers by educating, providing necessary facilitation and guidance to them. A BTB counter has been established at the main Income Tax building in Karachi to extend full co-operation to the potential taxpayers breaking the barriers between the public and the Tax officials.
Over the years Pakistan’s Income Tax Base has been more or less static at 1 per cent or less of the total population. Therefore, tax net of the country requires expansion and Federal Board of Revenue intends the broadening of tax base as its prime initiative during tax year 2013-14.
Accordingly, Regional Tax Office Karachi is working at full throttle pace to help increase the tax base of the country. In this regard, Initial Notices u/s 114 (4) of Income Tax Ordinance 2001 have been issued by the Federal Board of Revenue through courier service to all those who are not in tax net on the basis of information available with the department regarding ownership of expensive vehicles and other economic activities carried out by the non-taxpayers. In response to those notices, an ample number of non-existing taxpayers have availed the Prime Minister’s Amnesty Scheme and filed returns of income and paid tax. This scheme is concluded with a gesture of trust towards government’s scheme by the public.
Whereby others preferred to file their normal income returns electronically as well as manually. Therefore, through the dedicated efforts, a substantial number of returns were enforced paying taxes in millions. Where returns are not voluntarily filed, action against the non-compliant is taken and their provisional assessments are made u/s 122-C of the I.T. Ordinance, 2001 and subsequent penalties in accordance with law are levied.
