MULTAN: Small traders and tax lawyers from across south Punjab attended an online awareness session organized by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on new tax scheme for small traders and simplified tax returns at the Regional Tax Office here.
Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kiyani, Chairman FBR Rashid Mahmood Langarial, Member Strategic Reforms Dr. Hamid Atiq Sarwar, attended the session online. Tax officers, experts, besides small traders including office bearers of markets were present.
Speaking during the session conducted via Zoom, minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani said, the scheme was prepared after consulting traders for their facilitation and convenience.
Chairman FBR Rashid Mahmood Langarial asked the officers and officials to take the new scheme’s success as a national mission and provide guidance to small traders.
Dr. Hamid Atiq Sarwar highlighted the key features of the scheme and elaborated how it was going to benefit small traders.
He explained that the scheme included simplified tax returns, green plates, exemption from PoS integration, and responsibilities regarding withholding tax.
Member Inland Revenue (Operations) Dr. Zubair Bilal asked chief commissioners to set up help desks at their offices across the country.
Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Dr. Muhammad Sarmad Qureshi described the scheme as a positive initiative and a testimony to FBR commitment to expand tax base while facilitating small traders.
Tax Bar Association president Younis Ghazi general secretary Khadim Hussain Maitla, vice president Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Azhar Baloch, Khawaja Salman Siddiqui, Sheikh Khalid Qureshi, Haji Akram Hakeem, Muhammad Abdullah, Khawaja Moazzam Waheed and many others were among the participants.
Parallel online sessions were also held in other parts of south Punjab including Rajanpur, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Mianchannu, and others.
Officials said that special teams would continue to maintain contact with small traders, provide guidance and help them in registration and filing simplified return forms.
Traders appreciated the friendly initiative and promised cooperation in voluntary tax scheme to improve tax revenue for the country.
