Eastern Region Lahore received as many as 174,000 income tax returns with tax money amounting to Rs 4,500 million up to 8:30 pm on Friday, the last day for filing of income tax returns for the current assessment year.
"Our expected estimate is Rs 4,700 million with total returns exceeding 174,000 mark, Mian Munawar Ghafoor, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax (Headquarters), Eastern Region, told Business Recorder.
Till 6.00 pm the total figure of returns received was 125,000 while at 8.00 pm the amount and the number of returns reached Rs 4,500 million and 174,000 respectively, he added. Last year the region had received Rs 2181 million tax with 160,000 income tax returns.
Giving reasons for the increase, the additional commissioner said that it was possible due to various steps taken by the Central Board of Revenue to facilitate taxpayers. Under the USAS, the tax department accepted what a taxpayer filed, which is an encouraging incentive given by the government to the taxpayers.
Moreover, he said, the Eastern region established Tax Facilitation Centers (TFCs) at every prominent market and business center in Lahore to educate taxpayers, which encouraged them to come in the tax net on voluntary basis.
Elimination of contact between taxpayers and tax officials was another positive and bold step taken by the government for convenience of taxpayers, Munawar Ghafoor said, adding all such measures bore fruits and encouraged people for voluntarily compliance.
The additional commissioner said in addition to zone, 22 additional counters have been established for facilitation of taxpayers. The income tax returns will be received till 12.00 pm.