FBR advises markets on returns filing

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has asked market associations to convince their members for availing extension in return filing date, as the date has been extended up to March 31, 2019.

In this regard, a meeting was held a day earlier at the Income Tax Building, Karachi between officials of the Regional Tax Office (RTO) and representatives of different market associations in the city.

The tax officials informed the market associations that the raids and surveys had been stopped till the end of date for filing income tax returns.

It is pertinent to mention that the RTO Karachi had finalised to conduct survey of different markets and shopping plazas from mid of this month in its ongoing broadening of tax base (BTB) campaign. Meanwhile, the FBR extended the last date for filing returns for Tax Year 2018 up to March 31, 2019.

Sources said teams were constituted by the BTB wing of the RTO-II Karachi for conducting raids and surveys. But the exercise was put on hold in order to give an opportunity to non-compliant taxpayers.

The FBR chairman in its recent visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) had assured that the tax authorities would not bother the compliant taxpayers. But he also told the business community that unregistered persons should comply with tax laws.

Badaruddin Qureshi, chief commissioner inland revenue, RTO-II Karachi told The News on Tuesday the broadening of tax base was on-going and business community should avail the opportunity of extended date for filing returns.

He said that after the due date, the tax authorities would take initiatives against non-compliant taxpayers as per provisions of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.