RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received 2.2 million income tax returns, as compared to 1.724 million returns submitted in the same period last year.

This was informed by FBR to the delegation of the Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) during a meeting held in Karachi on the other day.

The meeting, headed by FBR Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial, also discussed steps to strengthen taxpayer facilitation and voluntary compliance.

KTBA argued that FBR’s push for more detailed information in tax returns has lengthened the time needed to prepare accurate filings, and asked for more time to be given to taxpayers to meet the expanded reporting requirements.

KTBA also welcomed FBR’s digitalization push but said it needs to be paired with sustained taxpayer awareness efforts.

The association also informed that field formations had begun penal action against taxpayers from some service-sector, requesting the chairman FBR that such cases be assessed individually and leniently to encourage compliance rather than discourage it.