Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is set to establish 145 District Tax Offices as part of its restructuring measures followed by the approval of the Finance Minister (FM) Shamshad Akhtar, claimed a news source on November 17.
The news source mentioned that the FBR officially announced the formation of these offices, each led by District Tax Officers, tasked with the crucial responsibility of enforcing Income Tax Returns from non-filers and stop filers. This step is anticipated to play a pivotal role in raising the tax-to-GDP ratio to the desired level. It aims to bring 1.5 to 2 million new taxpayers into the tax net by June 2024.
To address the critical tax gap and encompass all potential taxpayers, these newly established offices will be led by dedicated Inland Revenue Officers ranking BS-17/18. They will leverage third-party data obtained from various departments and agencies, shedding light on investments in assets and significant expenditures by individuals who have thus far managed to evade the taxation system, including the registration and filing of tax returns.
An instrumental tool in this process will be the implementation of recently introduced section 114B in the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. This section empowers the department to take measures such as disconnecting utility connections (electricity and gas) and blocking mobile SIMs if individuals fail to file returns in response to issued notices.
As a graduate in English Literature, Zohaib believes that words are not just a mere figment of imagination. It takes wisdom to be good at them. Following this reason, he is pursuing his career as Public Relations and Content Specialist at Zameen.com.
