Karachi, July 18, 2025 – In a massive breakthrough for Pakistan’s tax enforcement regime, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has set an unprecedented record: the Active Taxpayers List (ATL) has skyrocketed to an astonishing 7.40 million by July 17, 2025.
This dramatic rise is more than just a number — it’s a thunderous statement from the FBR that Pakistan’s era of tax evasion is coming to an end. Over the past two weeks alone, nearly 100,000 new taxpayers have been added to the ATL, reflecting a wave of urgency among citizens to comply or face the consequences.
According to data officially provided to PkRevenue, this updated ATL reflects income tax returns filed for Tax Year 2024, with all updates processed up to July 17, 2025. The surge is being celebrated as a historic shift in the nation’s financial culture, as more taxpayers embrace documentation and accountability.
What’s driving this sensational growth? The answer lies in bold legislative reforms introduced under Budget 2025–26, particularly the game-changing insertion of Section 114C into the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. This powerful provision has armed the FBR with unprecedented authority to target non-filers — and the pressure is working.
Under Section 114C, individuals not on the ATL now face a financial lockdown. Non-compliant taxpayers are barred from:
• 🚫 Booking or registering luxury vehicles
• 🏠 Purchasing or registering properties
• 📈 Investing in mutual funds, stocks, and securities
• 💳 Withdrawing large sums from bank accounts
The FBR has drawn a clear line in the sand: comply or be cut off. These sweeping restrictions are turning the heat up on chronic non-filers, forcing them to either pay up or get locked out of Pakistan’s economic mainstream.
For compliant taxpayers, the ATL is now more than a registry — it’s a VIP pass to smoother transactions and reduced withholding taxes. For those who remain outside the net, however, the cost of staying invisible is rising steeply.
With the FBR tightening its grip and millions of taxpayers rushing to get on board, one thing is certain — Pakistan’s tax net is expanding with unstoppable force. Non-filers, beware: your time is running out.