ISLAMABAD: The government’s talk of bringing the rich into the tax net has failed to produce any noticeable results as only 263,000 people filed their income tax returns in the tax year 2015 as against 445,000 returns filed last year, showing a decline of 182,000 returns or 40.8 per cent.

The government is considering extending the last date for filing of tax returns for the third time, and the new deadline may be pushed to Nov 15.

While 131,811 returns were filed in September, 131,189 more were filed in the current month until October 30.

Last year, approximately 400,000 salaried individuals had filed their returns, while returns filed by the companies stood at 25,000 and returns by AoPs stood at 20,000.

A further analysis of the e-filed returns showed that Karachi, which is the business hub of the country, received around 58,000 returns while in Lahore 24,000 returns were filed. From Islamabad 17,000 returns were filed and from Rawalpindi 18,000 returns were e-filed.

Sources in the FBR expect that the number of total filers may go up once manual returns would be added.

Last year, 940,000 people had filed their returns with the FBR. This figure was achieved after giving several extensions. Until Dec 5, 2014, the FBR had received only 750,000 income tax returns, the official said.

E-filing of tax returns is mandatory for salaried individuals, companies and associations of persons (AoPs).

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2015

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