Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), for the first time in its history, filed petitions against 14 non-filers before a special court set-up for this purpose — a news source reported.
The objective behind this exercise is to prosecute rich retailers, jewellers and individuals who own assets worth multi-million rupees but registered with the tax authorities. The petition was submitted before the court of Special Judge Customs, Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Rawalpindi/Islamabad. It was submitted by FBR’s Regional Taxpayer Office (RTO) Islamabad under Section 203 of the Income Tax Ordinance (ITO) to initiate criminal prosecution proceedings under the Section 191 of the ITO 2001.
The special court has admitted the case and issued summons to all accused to be present before the court on January 14.
Section 191 empowers Inland Revenue commissioners to initiate criminal proceedings against non-filers. The special court has power under Section 203 to try offenders under the ITO. The FBR had issued the statutory notices to the taxpayers directing them to file their taxes but the taxpayers had not complied. A further reminder was also served in the form of a notice.
Subsequently, the taxpayer was issued a show cause notice for imposition of penalty u/s 182 (1) of the Income Tax Ordinance and a fine of PKR 20,000 was imposed for their failure to file their tax returns.
According to the FBR, it is established that the aforementioned offenders had deliberately or wilfully committed an offence; which is why the decision was made to take their case to the special court for prosecution.
