Additional Secretary Revenue Division Asrar Raouf has said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is legally empowered to examine the last five years' record of the people, making them part of the documented regime for broadening the tax-base.
On the conclusion of the special committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Raouf informed Business Recorder that the law permits to check the past tax record or scrutinise details of the assets of the potential persons to bring them in the tax net to broaden the tax-base. The FBR will not grant any kind of amnesty to these persons while examining the details of assets and incomes, he added.
The FBR will try its level best to facilitate the new taxpayers in clearing their tax liabilities. Under the exercise of broadening the tax-base, the FBR will take due care of the taxpayers on facilitation side. When a new taxpayer would be brought into the tax net, he would be educated and guided for payment of taxes under the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
The FBR will focus on maximum facilitation of the new persons, who intend to operate under the documented regime. Asrar Raouf, who have in-depth knowledge of income tax laws, said that the FBR has obtained necessary data of the potential persons from NADRA and ready to launch the awareness exercise for broadening the tax-base.
When asked about payment made to NADRA for acquiring data, Additional Secretary Revenue Division said that so far no payment had been made to the NADRA for obtaining data under the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. So far, no written agreement has been signed for making payment to the authority. Earlier, Asrar Raouf informed the committee that the FBR and the NADRA had developed understanding for launching biggest enforcement exercise of broadening the tax-base.