Tax directory of MPs, taxpayers to be launched next month

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is expected to launch sixth consecutive tax directory of parliamentarians and for all taxpayers including tax payments made by public representatives, members of the National Assembly and the Senate, as well as corporate entities and individuals early next month.

Sources said that the object of launching the tax directory was to introduce financial transparency and sharing information with the public on how much the public representatives, who have been availing the resources of the country on behalf of the people, have been paying individually as taxes to the exchequer.

It would be the sixth tax directory of parliamentarians, which would contain the tax payments made by them with the FBR.

Sources confirmed preparations are underway for releasing tax directory for parliamentarians for tax year 2018.

All parliamentarians belonging to the National Assembly, Senate and four provincial assemblies have been requested to file their income tax returns, so that their names can be included into the Tax Directory.

The Revenue Division would move summary to get permission from the federal cabinet and after getting approval, the Tax Directory for tax year 2018 would be launched.

Revenue Division had not yet moved summary so it was not expected to come before the cabinet as part of the agenda for today's (Thursday) scheduled meeting under chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Sources said that work is underway with the commitment that the Tax Directory for Parliamentarians as well as individuals, association of persons and companies would be launched simultaneously by end of the ongoing month or early March 2020.

The need for transparency and accountability in a vibrant democracy imposes extra responsibility on public representatives for disclosure of their assets and the sources of their income.

With these aims and objectives, the Federal Board of Revenue published, its first Tax Directory of Parliamentarians in tax year 2013.

In line with the incumbent government's reform agenda, tax directory embodies the policy of transparency and accountability through access to information.

The publication of the Parliamentarians' Tax Directory is an integral step towards ensuring transparency and informing voters about the taxpaying status of their elected representatives.

Tax Directory of the Parliamentarians for the Tax Year 2018 would contain tax details of members of the Senate of Pakistan and members of the national as well as provincial assemblies.