KARACHI – The government has announced plans to introduce a user-friendly income tax return form that can be conveniently filed through mobile phones in just a few minutes.
State Minister for Revenue Hammad Azhar, in a statement to a local TV channel, revealed that the simplified return form is set to be launched later this year, with potential availability for the tax year 2019.
The new return form, designed to be accessible to individuals, aims to streamline the tax filing experience by pre-populating or filling in many entries, reducing the time and effort required from taxpayers. Speaking about this initiative, Minister Azhar emphasized the government’s commitment to facilitating taxpayers and making the taxation process more straightforward.
To enhance accessibility, the simplified return form will be made available in both Urdu and English, ensuring that individuals from various linguistic backgrounds can easily understand their responsibilities. This move is in line with the government’s efforts to make tax compliance more inclusive and user-friendly.
Minister Azhar also highlighted upcoming reforms in tax laws, set to be unveiled in the next federal budget. These reforms aim to simplify tax legislation and create a more efficient and effective system. As part of broader administrative reforms at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the government has implemented a mechanism for monitoring and enforcement, with detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place for conducting audits.
A key focus of the government’s tax reform agenda is reducing the interface between taxpayers and tax officials. In this regard, the existing helpline will be expanded by ten times to provide better assistance and support to taxpayers. Additionally, a new informative website is set to be launched next week, consolidating all information related to taxes in one accessible platform.
In a bid to address revenue leakages, the government has outlined plans for the integration of all taxes. The first stage of this initiative involves the launch of a single window for FBR taxes, providing a centralized platform for taxpayers. Subsequently, the government aims to extend this single window to encompass both federal and provincial taxes, streamlining the overall taxation process.
Minister Azhar acknowledged that the implementation of such systems requires legislative measures, and the federal government, in collaboration with provincial counterparts, is actively working towards introducing these reforms. The comprehensive approach to tax reforms signals a commitment to modernizing and simplifying the tax system, fostering compliance, and ensuring a more efficient and transparent financial landscape for individuals and businesses alike.
