ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue has issued notices to 240,000 potential taxpayers in a bid to bring them under the tax net.

In a press release issued on Monday, Director General Broadening of Tax Base Rehmatullah Wazir claimed to have collected transactional and non-transactional information about these people. The information was collected from motor vehicle registration authorities, car manufacturers, power companies, property registration authorities, mobile phone companies, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Pakistan Engineering Council, Pakistan Bar Council and Jamal’s Yellow Pages.

Wazir said the information was collated and integrated in the IT Wing of FBR/PRAL along with already available information for preparation of profiles of potential taxpayers.

FBR and its field formations have already issued notices to them for enforcing returns. In cases where returns have not been filed by potential taxpayers, orders under Section 122 C of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 have been passed and a demand of over Rs14 billion has been created.

New taxpayers have already paid amount of tax of Rs570 million. The DG has also taken recovery measures against chronic defaulters. In 278 cases, bank accounts have been attached, warrants for arrest in 40 cases have been issued and in 117 cases vehicles have been attached and impounded.

In 78 cases, properties have been attached for auction/sale. The DG has also sought information from other sources including airlines, land developers, banks, Nadra, trade bodies, higher education institutions and professional associations.

“When the central data bank based on the above information will be created, all the potential taxpayers will be brought into the tax net,” the statement added.

Published in Dawn February 3rd , 2015

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