FBR vows undeterred actiona gainst defaulters, non-filers

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will not bow down to the illegal demands of halting action against non-filers and defaulted taxpayers, a top tax official said on Tuesday.

“The FBR will continue to conduct raids against defaulted taxpayers on tangible evidences,” Rehmatullah Khan Wazir, Member Inland Revenue (Operations) told The News. “The action against non-filers will also continue and where it deems necessary bank accounts will also be attached for recovery,” he said.

A day earlier all chambers of commerce and association of the country had adopted a joint strategy to force the FBR to stop raids on business premises and avoid freezing bank accounts.

Wazir said compliant taxpayers should not be worried about an action. “Tax departments have been warned against harassment to taxpayers.” FBR sources said the board has directed the tax departments to take strict action against defaulters, especially the non-filers.

The sources said the FBR launched the drive across the board and business community is no exception.  An official at Regional Tax Office Karachi said despite repeated instructions to the business community for filing of annual returns the registered members of chambers or associations were unmoved.

The Section 114 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 made it mandatory for a person to file his annual return in case he is registered with a chamber of commerce and industry, trade association, market committee or professional body.

The section also explains the classes of persons required to file their annual returns along with wealth statement. The official said a meeting of Member Inland Revenue (Operations) with
the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry was recently held at the Large Taxpayers Unit, Karachi and it was agreed that the FBR would not take any ‘punitive’ action against taxpayers without evidences.

The official said in the latest drive many business leaders, who defaulted on tax payment or failed to submit declaration, came under the FBR’s radar.