With only two days left to submit income tax returns, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has extended the working hours of its field offices to assist taxpayers.
According to the FBR, offices will remain open until 10 PM today and until midnight on September 30 to accommodate last-minute filers.
Previously, the FBR announced plans for a strict crackdown on non-filers starting October 1, which will include imposing travel restrictions on those who have not filed.
A senior FBR official stated that the board intends to take stringent enforcement actions post-October 1, aiming to meet an annual tax target of approximately 13 trillion rupees.
As part of this initiative, millions of non-filers will receive final tax notices. The FBR has indicated that restrictions may also be placed on non-filers traveling abroad, along with measures to disconnect mobile SIMs and utility services for electricity and gas.
Additionally, there are proposals to prohibit non-filers from buying and selling property and vehicles.
The FBR has emphasized that income tax returns for the fiscal year 2024 must be submitted by September 30.
Those who fail to file will face double withholding tax, and extensive audits of taxpayers are planned once the deadline has passed.
Sources indicate that there is a strategy in place to collect billions in taxes from ten major sectors, including retail, wholesale, transport, real estate, construction, health, and education.
The FBR has comprehensive records of citizens’ transactions, and substantial fines will be imposed for tax evasion or the provision of inaccurate information.
In a bid to reach the ambitious tax target for the fiscal year 2024-25, the government has allocated an additional Rs34 billion to modernize the FBR.
Recently, the FBR announced plans to collaborate with intelligence agencies to identify corrupt officials.
As part of its strategy, the government aims to collect Rs450 billion through enforcement measures, with a focus on digitally capturing Rs48 trillion in services sector supplies over the next three months.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has voiced his support for the FBR’s initiatives, which are seen as crucial for achieving the annual tax target of Rs12.97 trillion.
