RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Revenue Haroon Akhtar has assured the business community that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will not ‘harass’ taxpayers in the name of tax collection.
Haroon, while talking to the delegation of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), also asked the traders to update their accounts. The government is well aware of the problems being faced by traders and industrialists, he said, adding, “We are trying to provide maximum assistance and incentives to broaden the tax net”.
The PM’s special assistant said the government wants to resolve key issues amicably, however; unfortunately the traders are taking the cushion of FBR laws and trying to evade paying taxes. This small percentage of tax evaders is damaging the confidence of the taxpayers, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, RCCI President Raja Amer Iqbal said the number of tax return filers in the country is very low, less than a million, reflecting 0.5% percent of the total population. He urged the government to provide incentives to increase the tax net rather harassing the existing taxpayers. He updated the special assistant on the declaration of All Pakistan Chamber Presidents conference held recently. He said that traders demanding reforms in sales tax and FBR laws, dropping sales tax percentage to single digit.
The powers under section 38a, 38b, 40 and 40b should not be misused by RTO and must be given to a member of FBR, he suggested.
