ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue has demonstrated a remarkable revenue collection performance in the first six months of the current financial year 2022-23 and has collected Rs3428 billion for the first six months against Rs2929 billion collected in the corresponding period of last year depicting an increase of 17%. FBR collected Rs740 billion for the month of December 2022 against Rs599 billion in the same month last year showing an impressive growth of almost 24% as compared to the same month last year. This performance is despite huge import compression and zero rating on petroleum.
Direct taxes collection continues to grow at a robust pace, which has shown growth of 66% during the month of December 2022 compared to December 2021, a clear indicator of the policy of shifting tax burden on wealthy and affluent. Direct taxes collection for the first six months has also registered an unprecedented growth of 49%. This was achieved despite the fact that certain policy interventions having revenue impact of Rs250 billion introduced through Finance Act 2022 could not be implemented as these are subjudice in the courts. Target for the month of December was Rs. 965 billion which could not be achieved due to the aforementioned reason.
The revenue collection performance is also exceptional when viewed in the context that FBR has also issued refunds of Rs.176 billion during the first half of the current financial year as against Rs. 149 billion during corresponding period of last year.
FBR also appreciates all those taxpayers who contributed to this collection and recognizes the endeavors of all field formations and officers for their untiring efforts and commitment to optimize revenue collection in difficult times where taxes on imports have been showing negative growth. The revenue collection figures are clear indicators for the achievement of the assigned revenue targets for current financial year. This unprecedented growth in tax revenues, especially direct taxes underscore the resolve of the Government and FBR to make Pakistan a thriving nation. FBR hopes that when import restrictions are eased and court cases come to a logical conclusion, the lost revenue will also be retrieved during the current fiscal year.
