FBR ready to disconnect power lines of non-filers

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has prepared a plan to sever electricity and telephone connections of non-filers of income tax returns.

Talking to a TV channel, a spokesman for the FBR said that earlier notices had been issued to over 700,000 non-filers for the year 2022 and 2023.

In the second phase, preparations have been made to cut the telephone connections of the non-filers. In the third stage, the non-filers would be punished with disconnection of their electricity lines.

The government has taken the punitive action to bring a maximum number of citizens under the tax net on the direction of the IMF.

Earlier the data of non-filers was gathered through their utility bills. Those who failed to file the returns, their mobile phone SIMs would be blocked in the first phase. 

The FBR is planning to bring about two million people under the tax net by June 2024 under the direction of the IMF. NADRA has assured it of its cooperation as regard to data of the citizens.

The FBR has notified the establishment of district tax offices, a new initiative to broaden the tax base.