Foreign travel curbs planned for non-filers

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed stringent measures against non-filers including barring their foreign travel in the budget.

According to the Finance Bill 2024-25, it has been proposed to bar exit from Pakistan of such persons with exceptions for Haj and Umrah travellers, minors, students, overseas Pakistanis and such other classes of persons as notified by the Board as non-filers.

In case the implementing agencies do not block SIMs or disconnect utility connections or do not comply with the bar on foreign travel, a penalty of Rs100 million will be imposed upon the implementing agency for first default and Rs200 million for each subsequent default.

Penalties and prosecutions are proposed for entities failing to fully disclose relevant particulars or submitting incomplete information in their tax returns or failure to file return on discontinuation of their business. Further, penalty of sealing of shop is being proposed for traders and shopkeepers, who fail to register under a scheme such as Tajir Dost Scheme. Further, failure to register by a shopkeeper or trader is proposed to be made an offence punishable on conviction with imprisonment for six months or with fine, or both.