I MAINTAIN a joint account in a bank with my wife. I am also an income tax return filer for many years. However, my spouse is a housewife and has no source of income.

Recently, I noticed that the withholding tax has been deducted from my account. On inquiring from the bank, I found this was because my wife is a non-filer.

Can anyone comprehend how can a housewife, who has no source of income, be a tax-return filer? Did anyone give a thought to it, or warn us that I have to file a return for my wife even if she doesn’t have any source of income?

Such taxes are a further burden on law- abiding citizens who pay their dues. This clearly shows the inefficiency of the bureaucracy. Who is responsible for this mess?

Jawed Macknojia

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2015

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