After PTA’s refusal to block SIMs, FBR’s Plan-B to ‘penalize’ non-filers

After PTA’s refusal to block SIMs, FBR’s Plan-B to ‘penalize’ non-filers

May, 10 2024

LAHORE: (Web Desk) Following its failure to get blocked the mobile phone SIMs of over 0.5 million individuals who have failed to file their returns, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is now exploring alternative measures such as imposition of a 2.5 per cent additional withholding tax on the mobile phone usage by non-filers as penalty.

The FBR wanted the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom companies block SIMs of non-filers by May 15. After their refusal, the FBR will initiate legal proceedings, sources said. A petition will be filed in the Islamabad High Court against both the PTA and telecom companies against their refusal to enforce the regulatory requirement, they said.

For the purpose, the board has also started consultations with its legal team to prepare a petition to be submitted to the high court.

According to the sources, the FBR is also considering to charge from non-filers an additional tax on each mobile and data load.

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Information Technology and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the telecom companies earlier raised legal concerns regarding the implementation of the FBR’s order to block SIMs of non-filers of tax returns. The PTA has already rejected a FBR demand.

The FBR also released a comprehensive list of 506,671 individuals who failed to file their tax returns for 2023 demanding their mobile phone SIMs promptly blocked as a penalty.

The decision was issued in an Income Tax General Order (ITGO) no 01 of 2024, which said that the mobile SIMs for these individuals will stay blocked until restored by the FBR or the Commissioner Inland Revenue having authority over the person.

As per the Active Taxpayers List (ATL), the FBR received 4.2m taxpayers until March 1, 2024 as against 3.8m returns received over the corresponding period of last year. This shows a marginal increase during the period under review.