Assets Declaration Ordinance 2019: PM urged to extend date for filing of declarations

Pakistan Tax Advisers Association (PTAA) has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to extend the date for filing of declarations under the Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019 till July 31, 2019. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Chairman PTAA Javed Iqbal Qazi said that it is submitted that without payment of penalty the last date of submission of assets declaration under Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019 is 30.06.2019 whereas there are weekly holidays on June 29-30 (Saturday and Sunday).
The PM was informed that taxpayers/general public have realised the seriousness of the government regarding the scheme as the information in respect of properties as well as local and foreign banks accounts is available with the federal government /Federal Board of Revenue.
Separately, Pakistan Tax Advisers Association arranged a seminar on the aforesaid scheme at Lahore on Wednesday which was largely attended by businessmen, tax consultants, advocates as well as chartered accountants.
In the said seminar it was explained that in 1972 there were only 3 commissioners of Income Tax in Pakistan and now there are in hundreds while grade-21 officers are more than 30 while grade-22 officers are more than five. With the passage of time, the tax department has lost its grip over the tax payers while the tax payers & non-tax payers have accumulated a lot of un-taxed wealth whereas the government's revenue collection has not increased reasonably.
The taxpayers /general public have realised the situation and have started visiting the offices of tax advisers. The CPRS/challans are being prepared and tax is being deposited in government treasury, maintained Chairman PTAA Javed Iqbal Qazi.
The task is too lengthy and time consuming whereas time is very short, especially the submission of assets declaration & revision of wealth statement at the same time.
Moreover procedure for payment of tax challans in foreign currency in Pakistan /from abroad is very tedious and complicated.
"In the best interest of the country as well as revenue, your honor is requested to accommodate the assets declarants and the basic/initial date of submission of revised wealth statements / declaration be extended to 31.07.2019 instead of 30.06.2019. Banks may also please be allowed to function on 29-06-2019 and 30-06-2019. This act of yours will provide reasonable time to the declarants/tax advisers to complete their job within time. An early action in the matter is requested," Qazi added.