The Federal Board of Revenue has finalised authentic profiles of over 3 million non-filers of income tax returns and picked profiles of 100 major defaulters on national level to be served special notices to enforce the writ of the government for bringing them within documented regime.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the 100 biggest tax defaulters are not contributing even a penny to the national kitty despite enjoying luxurious house in posh areas, possessing expansive vehicles and going on foreign visits for 40 to 100 times in last few years. Out of 3 million profiles of non-filers, the FBR has selected 100 major non-filers on random basis to launch the documentation exercise even before approval of tax registration scheme to ensure enforcement. The permanent addresses are available with the tax department to ensure that the defaulters should duly receive the notices for initiation of the legal proceedings. The non-compliant persons would be made examples for others. This will give a clear and loud message to the tax dodgers that the government is very much serious to bring potential persons into the tax net in the presence of their authentic profiles, they said.
The FBR will present the Finance Amendment Bill 2012 to National Assembly during the upcoming session. The Bill will be presented in the Parliament as government wanted to take all stakeholders on board. Under the proposed legislation, the tax authorities will propose amendment in the income tax laws which will empower them to block the computerised national identity card number (CNIC) at the time of initiating provisional assessment if potential non filers failed to reply the special notices issued by the FBR. Thus, as soon as the provincial assessment is initiated under section 122(C) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, the CNIC of the defaulters can be blocked under proposed law. This would require amendment in section 122(C) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
Sources said that the list of major non-filers comprised of 450 potential tax dodgers at initial stage but it was further slashed down to 100 individuals who will be targeted to testify the authenticity of their profile data. These non filers will be made example for others who preferred to remain outside the upcoming registration scheme. An official said that, "we are working simultaneously on preparing profiles of major non -filers as well as on tabling bills into upcoming session of National Assembly."
The profiles of selected 100 non-filers revealed that one renowned singer who lives in DHA Lahore had travelled abroad 46 times and owned BMW vehicle but he did not deposit a penny into FBR's kitty. The singer, known for his involvement in philanthropic activities, possessed many bank accounts but not paying due taxes.
According to another profile, another non-filer who is resident of Lahore Cantt was born in 1962 and his travel account stood at 46 times in last five years mainly in renowned and expansive capitals abroad. His wife travelled 13 times and during one stay in London she stayed there for 215 days. He possessed three vehicles including Porsche motor car, Honda Civic and Suzuki Alto and possessed 21 banks accounts. According to FBR's data, he did not pay a penny into national kitty.
Another, non-filers is a renowned retired cricketer hailing from Karachi and residing in DHA who travelled abroad 26 times and his wife travelled 8 times in last few years but he was not paying any taxes. He possessed Toyota Premio and Toyota Suceed and hold 12 bank accounts Tax profiles also revealed that there is another non-filer who is residing in Abbottabad in one of posh area and travelled abroad for 74 times in last five years. He possessed several accounts and numbers of cars were registered on his name but he did not pay any taxes.
Similar kind of profiles has been made of over 3 million non-filers, reflecting seriousness of the tax department to document the potential persons. On a single computer screen, tax officials can electronically access the complete profiles with picture of the tax dodgers, reflecting undeniable data. These are selected profiles out of over 3 million profiles of tax dodgers which would be initially tested to check the authenticity of the data and enforcement of tax laws, sources added.
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