Karachi, February 16, 2024 – Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana has given the go-ahead for stringent penal measures against non-filers.
The decision was made during a visit to the Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) in Karachi on Friday, where Chairman Tiwana, accompanied by Member-IR (Operations) Mir Badshah Khan Wazir, held crucial meetings with tax authorities.
The high-profile meeting included Chief Commissioners-IR from Large Taxpayers Office, Medium Taxpayers Office, Corporate Tax Office, Karachi. Chief-IR (Operations) Arshad Nawaz Chheena and all Commissioners-IR from field formations based in Karachi were also present during the discussions, as mentioned in an official news release.
The focal point of the meeting was the evaluation of the field formations’ performance in revenue collection throughout the ongoing financial year. Chief Commissioners-IR provided detailed presentations on their respective budgetary targets and the strategies implemented to achieve them. The officials also highlighted cases where due legal proceedings led to the recovery of demanded taxes.
Chairman Tiwana stressed the importance of scrutinizing the validity and legality of input tax claimed by taxpayers, aiming to expose cases of tax fraud and the use of fake/flying invoices. He urged authorities to ensure the recovery of sales tax evaded through fraudulent means.
In a separate meeting addressing the imperative task of broadening the tax base, Chairman FBR met with Chief Commissioners-IR of Regional Tax Office-I & II, Karachi. During this session, the emphasis was on evaluating the performance and achievements of District Tax Officers. The Chairman directed authorities to take decisive action against entities required to be registered with FBR but found to be non-compliant. He also underscored the enforcement of returns for non-filers, utilizing penal measures outlined in the Income Tax Ordinance of 2001.
Prior to these discussions, Chairman FBR engaged in a meeting with Chief Collectors and Collectors of Customs Karachi at Customs House Karachi. The purpose was to commend the anti-smuggling operations of Pakistan Customs and to encourage them to persist in their efforts to eliminate smuggling.
The meetings concluded with expressions of appreciation for the dedicated efforts of field formations and Pakistan Customs in meeting revenue targets for the current financial year. The Chairman lauded the collective commitment to ensuring tax compliance, expressing optimism for sustained progress in revenue collection efforts in the coming months.
