Filers are decreasing while revenue is increasing which is a testimony that existing taxpayers are being squeezed: Abdul Basit
LAHORE: Tax filers have increased to 100 percent from 700000 to 1400000 during the current financial year and the impression that existing taxpayers are being squeezed is wrong.
These views were expressed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Dr Irshad Khan while addressing businessmen at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry the other day.
The chairman FBR said that business community ‘ s growth and prosperity is the government’s growth and development as the government is 30 percent partner in their incomes. He said that tax filers should hang their NTN on their outlets to identify non tax filers.
“Rs 57 billion refunds have been disbursed and aggressively all refunds would be paid back with interest,” he said adding that Dry port clearance has decline due to federal government’s tax levy and chief collector and LCCI president would prepare recommendations and submitted the same to the to the office of the chairman for the removal of the obstacles.
Revenue is need of the government and business community must support in this regard, he said, adding that non filers can be caught only if the businessmen support FBR.
He added extensive consultation is being undertaken so far as the Budget 2017-18 is concerned and the taxpayers would be given relief.
He said that cohesive measures would not be taken and the business community should also pay its areas we are there to provide you to concessions.
On the occasion, LCCI President Abdul Basit said tax filers are decreasing while tax revenue is increasing which is a testimony that existing taxpayers were being victimized.
“National Tax Authorities be made to collect all the revenues at one time. Refunds are being delayed if it is delayed the government should pay it back with 3 percent interest with kibore.
Pakistan should tax agriculture sector like livestock. He also demanded that the food sector be declared zero rated like the other five sectors.
He demanded that the FBR should not play with the reputation of the business entities and it should refrain from raiding the outlets of the businessmen to save the reputation of both the businessmen and the country home and abroad.
Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa, former office-bearers and executive committee members at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mian Muhammad Ashraf, Kashif Anwar, Shahid Hassan Sheikh, Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, Malik Tahir Javed, Shafqat Saeed Piracha, Aftab Ahmad Vohra, Zeeshan Khalil, Awais Saeed Piracha, Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Adnan Khalid Butt, Salman Basit, Mian Abdul Razzaq, Syed Mukhtar Ali, Tanvir Ahmad Sufi, Waqar Ahmed Mian and Chief Commissioner RTO-II Lahore Khawaja Adnan Zahir, Chief Commissioner LTU Lahore Zulqernain Tirmzi, Chief Commissioner CRTO Lahore Syed Nadeem Rizvi, Chief Collector Customs Lahore Ms. Zeba Hai and, Commissioner Zone-VII CRTO Lahore Mr. Mahmood Jafri, FBR Foundation Islamabad Saleem Ranjha, were also present on the occasion.
