KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will not bow down to
the illegal demands of halting action against non-filers and defaulted
taxpayers, a top tax official said on Tuesday.
“The
FBR will continue to conduct raids against defaulted taxpayers on tangible
evidences,” Rehmatullah Khan Wazir, Member Inland Revenue (Operations) told The
News. “The action against non-filers will also continue and where it deems
necessary bank accounts will also be attached for recovery,” he said.
A
day earlier all chambers of commerce and association of the country had adopted
a joint strategy to force the FBR to stop raids on business premises and avoid
freezing bank accounts.
Wazir
said compliant taxpayers should not be worried about an action. “Tax
departments have been warned against harassment to taxpayers.” FBR sources said
the board has directed the tax departments to take strict action against
defaulters, especially the non-filers.
The
sources said the FBR launched the drive across the board and business community
is no exception. An official at Regional Tax Office Karachi said despite
repeated instructions to the business community for filing of annual returns
the registered members of chambers or associations were unmoved.
The
Section 114 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 made it mandatory for a person to
file his annual return in case he is registered with a chamber of commerce and
industry, trade association, market committee or professional body.
The
section also explains the classes of persons required to file their annual
returns along with wealth statement. The official said a meeting of Member
Inland Revenue (Operations) With the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of
Commerce and Industry was recently held at the Large Taxpayers Unit, Karachi
and it was agreed that the FBR would not take any ‘punitive’ action against
taxpayers without evidences.
The
official said in the latest drive many business leaders, who defaulted on tax
payment or failed to submit declaration, came under the FBR’s radar.
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