ISLAMABAD: About 10,000 individuals have submitted their returns under the Voluntary Tax Compliance Scheme (VTCS) despite the government’s claim to bring over one million non-taxpayers in tax net.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Nisar Khan has informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue that as many as 10,000 traders have availed tax amnesty scheme so far.
Dr Nafeesa Shah, from PPP, severely criticised the government over low number of traders who availed the amnesty scheme. A government member of the National Assembly also flayed the responsible, saying, “We were initially told that one million traders would avail the scheme, while later the number was reduced to 2,50,000. But the actual result is before us.”
The federal government introduced the tax amnesty scheme in February and extended it twice, first till March 15 and then till the end of current month.
The Committee decided to constitute 4-member Sub-Committee under the chair of MNA Daniyal Aziz to discuss the complaints against the professional conduct and delaying tactics of FBR-Customs authorities regarding issuance of clarification on exemption of taxes & duties on LED/SMD lights and Pakistan-Switzerland tax agreement with regard to exchange of information on banking.
MNAs Daniyal Aziz, Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Sardar Muhammad Jaffar Khan Leghari, Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana, Sheikh Fayyaz-ud-Din, Mian Abdul Mannan, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Syed Naveed Qamar, Dr Nafisa Shah, Asad Umar, Sher Akber Khan, and senior officers from Ministry of Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics & Privatization, NBP and NAB also attended the meeting.
