Karachi, December 27, 2023 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced on Wednesday the opening of tax offices across the country on the last two weekly holidays of the year.
According to an official notification issued by the FBR, the offices of Inland Revenue will remain open on December 30 and 31, which fall on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. This decision is expected to provide taxpayers with an additional opportunity to fulfill their tax obligations and make necessary payments before the close of the fiscal year.
To implement this directive, the FBR has instructed Chief Commissioners of Inland Revenue from Large Taxpayers’ Offices (LTOs), Medium Taxpayers’ Office (MTO), Corporate Tax Offices (CTOs), and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) to keep their offices open and observe extended working hours. The extended working hours will be until 8:00 PM on Saturday, December 30th, 2023, and until 10:00 PM on Sunday, December 31st, 2023.
The FBR’s decision aligns with its commitment to providing accessible and convenient avenues for taxpayers, especially during critical periods such as the end of the fiscal year. Opening tax offices on weekends allows individuals and businesses to comply with their tax obligations without undue pressure or time constraints.
Furthermore, the FBR has directed Chief Commissioners of Inland Revenue to establish a liaison with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and authorized branches of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). This coordination aims to ensure the smooth transfer of tax collected by these branches to the respective branches of the State Bank of Pakistan on the same date. This process is crucial for accurate and timely accounting, specifically attributing the collection to the month of December 2023.
The decision to extend working hours and open tax offices on weekends is also seen as a strategic measure to meet revenue targets and address any last-minute tax-related matters that taxpayers may encounter as the fiscal year concludes. This proactive approach by the FBR reflects its commitment to efficient tax administration and responsiveness to the needs of taxpayers.
As taxpayers prepare to close their financial books for the year, the extended working hours on the last two weekly holidays offer a valuable opportunity for compliance and collaboration between taxpayers and tax authorities. The success of this initiative will be closely monitored as part of ongoing efforts to streamline tax collection processes and enhance transparency in the country’s fiscal management.
