Karachi, July 4, 2025 – In a historic move that’s sending shockwaves through financial and business circles, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced that Pakistan’s Active Taxpayers List (ATL) has skyrocketed to an all-time high of 7.27 million!
This jaw-dropping surge marks a monumental victory in the government’s aggressive crackdown on tax evasion.
According to a sensational new update issued by the FBR on Friday, the latest ATL count is based on income tax returns filed for Tax Year 2024, with updates processed as of July 3, 2025. This rise isn’t just a number — it’s a signal that the nation’s tax culture is changing, and fast.
So, what’s fueling this dramatic spike in the ATL? Sources within the FBR point squarely to powerful reforms rolled out under Budget 2025–26. Most notably, the insertion of Section 114C into the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, has added teeth to tax enforcement like never before.
Here’s what you need to know: under Section 114C, non-filers who aren’t on the ATL now face crushing restrictions on key economic activities. These include:
• 🚫 No car bookings or registrations for vehicles exceeding threshold values
• 🏠 No property transactions allowed through registrars or land authorities
• 📉 No investment accounts for mutual funds, stocks, or securities beyond a set limit
• 💵 No large cash withdrawals from bank accounts exceeding specific thresholds
The message from the FBR is crystal clear: get on the ATL or get shut out of the system. These sweeping restrictions are designed to corner non-filers, forcing them to come clean and contribute to the national exchequer.
The ATL is more than just a database — it’s a privilege. Those listed enjoy lower withholding tax rates and smoother financial transactions. Being off the ATL, on the other hand, now comes at a steep cost.
With the FBR tightening the noose and the ATL expanding faster than ever, it’s no longer an option — it’s a necessity to stay compliant. Non-filers beware: Pakistan’s tax net is closing in.