The telecommunication companies on a recommendation of the Federal Board of Revenue have blocked over 9,100 SIM cards of non-tax filers.
FBR Spokesperson Bakhtiar Ahmed Khan said that they have provided data of 30,000 non-filers to cellular companies, hinting that more SIM cards will be blocked.
Bakhtiar Ahmed Khan said that the FBR will provide data of 5,000 non-filers daily to telecom companies so that strict action could be taken against them.
The spokesman said the FBR so far identified over 550,000 non-filers.
Earlier, the FBR decided to impose an additional 87.5 percent withholding tax on non-tax filers phone users on mobile top-up. The non-filers would have to pay a 90 percent withholding tax on mobile top-ups till they file their income tax returns. According to a proposal, if a non-filer user loads a balance of Rs 100, he would receive only Rs 10 as Rs 90 will be deducted as tax. If mobile phone companies block SIM cards for non-payment of income tax, and the user buys another SIM, he would still also be charged 90 percent of tax.
