KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Inland Revenue (IR) Intelligence and Investigation has launched an investigation into the alleged tax evasion by TV and film actors Humayun Saeed and Fahad Mustafa.
The IR Intelligence following the directions of high ups started to investigate the financial affairs of top TV celebrities who were allegedly involved in tax fraud worth millions of rupees. They allegedly concealed their annual income in their tax returns.
Sources said that the FBR had decided to bracket the tax evaders, TV/film stars, and an investigation has been launched into tax matters of Saeed and Fahad Salahuddin, also known as Fahad Mustafa.
They said that after completion of the probe financial details of the actors would thoroughly be examined for an appropriate action, which might be in the form of cases and arrests.
High net-worth individuals pose significant challenges to tax administrations due to the complexity of their affairs, revenue contribution, and the impact of their compliance on the integrity of the tax system, the sources said. Source said the FBR would send notices to TV celebrities if they are found involved in tax evasion.
Saeed is a famous Pakistani model, actor and producer and he has worked in eight movies. He runs his own production house namely Six Sigma Entertainment and a boutique. Saeed performed in more than 50 TV serials and produced more than 13 projects. According to the sources, the actor earned far more than the amount on which he paid the tax. Reportedly, Saeed takes more than Rs 2.5 million for one project.
Mustafa, a prominent media personality currently hosting a famous TV quiz show, reportedly takes Rs 2 to Rs 2.5 million per project.
Among the prominent media personalities who did not file tax returns in 2010 and 2011 are Faisal Qureshi, Humayun Saeed, Nauman Ejaz, Savera Nadeem, singer Hadiqa Kiyani and writer Umera Ahmed.
According to the sources, the FBR has sped up the drive against the big fish and in this regard directed all directors of the IR Intelligence to furnish the updated information of tax evasion by high net-worth individuals. Special teams have been constituted and many successful raids have been conducted. A handsome amount has been recovered from various famous fashion designers.
