KARACHI: Member Inland Revenue (IR) Zubair Bilal has described the Aasan Tax Return Filing facility as one of the most liberal and trader-friendly tax initiatives introduced in decades, urging small traders and shopkeepers to take full advantage of the opportunity, voluntarily enter the formal tax system and conduct their businesses with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Speaking at an Awareness and Facilitation Session on Aasan Tax Return Filing organized by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Zubair Bilal said that during his 31 years of service, he had witnessed various schemes aimed at bringing traders into the tax system, but the present initiative was exceptionally liberal and offered small traders a valuable opportunity to regularize their tax affairs through a much simpler mechanism.
The session was widely attended by small traders, shopkeepers and representatives of the business community. Vice Chairmen Businessmen Group (BMG) Anjum Nisar and Jawed Bilwani, President KCCI Muhammad Rehan Hanif, Senior Vice President Muhammad Raza, Vice President Muhammad Arif Lakhani, Chairman KCCI Federal Taxation Subcommittee Abu Bakar Siddique Ahmed Shamsi, along with other members of the business community, were also present.
Zubair Bilal categorically assured the traders that they should not view the initiative with fear or suspicion. Rather, it should be seen as an opportunity to become part of the documented economy through an easier system backed by a grievance-redressal and facilitation mechanism.
He stressed that the objective should not be to force small traders into compliance through intimidation but to convince them why becoming part of the tax system was beneficial for them and for the country.
Drawing an analogy, he said that just as a child cannot be encouraged to study by constantly standing over him with a stick, traders cannot be sustainably brought into the tax system merely through coercion. They have to be properly guided, facilitated and convinced about the advantages of compliance. Once traders understand the system and have confidence in it, they will voluntarily become part of it and contribute towards making it successful.
He particularly encouraged shopkeepers and market representatives attending the KCCI session to spread awareness among their fellow traders and persuade them to avail themselves of the facility. He added that traders should approach the initiative positively, as becoming part of the formal system would provide them greater certainty and enable them to conduct their businesses with confidence.
Member IR further assured that a proper grievance-redressal mechanism was available for addressing genuine difficulties faced by traders. He emphasized that the tax authorities would remain accessible and that complaints and difficulties brought to their attention would be addressed. He also assured the business community of continued cooperation and facilitation, stating that officials would remain available to deal with complaints and concerns.
