Return filers increase to 1.74mln

KARACHI: Number of return filers increased more than 103,113 to 1.74 million in a week ended on March 10, active taxpayers list (ATL) for tax year 2018 showed.

The ATL updated on Monday by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) showed that the number of return filers stood at 1.638 million a week ago.

The number was increased after date extension for filing of annual income tax returns up to March 31.

The government, through Finance Act 2018, directed the Federal Board of Revenue to issue the ATL for tax year 2018 on March 1. Inclusion in ATL was linked with filing of returns by Individuals till December 15, 2018 and by companies till December 31, 2018.

Stakeholders urged the government to delete the law and allow late filers of income tax to appear on the ATL. The ATL issued on March 1 carried names of only 1.59 million active taxpayers as against 1.84 million in tax year 2017, which was showing a decline of returns by 240,000. The FBR said around 300,000 more returns would be added to the ATL after the date extension.