FBR identifies ''non-filers''

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has identified over 2600 non-filers in a major bank and over 1900 in Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). Sources said that Broadening of Tax Base (BTB) of FBR Karachi after identifying over 2600 non-filers in a bank and over 1900 in SSGC sent letters to them, asking to ensure filing of income tax returns for employees earning taxable income.
They said that under section 114 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, employees earning taxable income were required to file their income tax returns and the compliance with provision of law was essential to enable documentation of economy. Contrary to that, a large number of employees in that bank and SSGC are not filing income tax returns as they are of the view that there is at-source deduction of income tax on their salaries hence filing of return is not called for, sources said and added that this misconception was against the provisions of law.
They said that BTB, Karachi had asked that bank and SSGC to ensure compliance of filing of income tax return as the aforesaid employees in these organizations had not filed returns for the year 2018 and they could file income tax return up to August 2, 2019 ie. the last date announced by the Federal Board of Revenue for filing of income tax returns. Replying to a question, they said that in order facilitate these organizations, BTB, Karachi engaged volunteers of a non-governmental organization namely Karsaz Welfare Organization to help them in filing of the income tax returns and these volunteers would provide services without any fee.