ISLAMABAD – Amid deadlock between Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), PTA and mobile companies over blocking of SIMs of non-filers, the federal government is looking for an alternate option to recover taxes.
It was reported that federal government will introduce additional tax on individuals who are not filing their taxes, specifically targeting mobile loads and bundles.
The new decision is yet to get cabinet nod and is expected to be enforced from May 15 after detailed negotiation. Sources from within the government revealed that 2.5 percent extra tax will be imposed along with withholding tax for non-filers.
Last week, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shared data of non-filers with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) while apex tax collection authority plans to challenge PTA and cellular companies in the Islamabad High Court for not blocking SIM cards of non-filers, despite earlier failed negotiations.
Telcom operators opposed blocking of over SIM cards of half million non filers citing reasons such as women using SIMs registered under husband’s names and potential harm to digitalization and the telecom economy.
FBR orders PTA, telecos to block SIM Cards of over half million non-filers
