FBR launches online tax profiling system
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The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday formally launched the online FBR Tax Profiling System, enabling 53 million people to check their bank details, properties, utility bills and travel history data.
FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, introduced the system, using which citizens can check their tax profile after paying a fee of Rs500.
The chairman said that the data has been compiled with the help of the National Database and Registration Authority. He said that anyone — on the basis of their computerised national identity card (CNIC) and cell phone number — can request access to their information.
He said that security features have been added to the online profile system so that no one can access the personal information of another person.
Zaidi said Pakistan is entering a new era and tax assessment will now be made on the basis of available data as well as related information. He further said that Rs500 would be charged for each attempt to access one's profile.
State Minister for Revenue Hamad Azhar also addressed the press briefing.
As per details, if a person wants to access their information, they will have to send a message to 9966 to receive a code for registration on the system.
Next, the person will have to pay a Rs500 fee and then gain access to their data.
According to the FBR, the system allows citizens to view their profile created by correlating their data from multiple data sources of assets, expenses and lifestyles available with the government.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (117) Closed
Jun 21, 2019 03:21pm
People don't pay taxes, not because they hate Pakistan, but they don't like being ruled by aliens. No freedoms, no taxes.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:23pm
"Person will have to pay a Rs500 fee and then gain access to their data". A new way to collect money!
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Jun 21, 2019 03:27pm
Should be made available in Urdu too.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:29pm
If Rs.500 would be charged for each attempt to access one's profile, then this system has already failed before its launch. How could 53 million people pay Rs. 26,5 billion just for once visiting their own profile?
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Jun 21, 2019 03:34pm
To check your bank details, properties, utility bills and travel history data you have to pay fee of 500 rs.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:38pm
Rs500 would be charged for each attempt to access one's profile. A great idea of making money.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:40pm
Such services are free all over the world
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Jun 21, 2019 03:41pm
Just checked it a while ago. It has no information except banking transactions. Please don't waste your money
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Jun 21, 2019 03:42pm
Good move shame opposition never thought about this in the last 30 year.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:43pm
Shame on FBR for selling our information as data. What a 'Naya Pakistan' scam! Oye, free karo sub kuch.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:44pm
53 million ppl * 500 = Rs. 26500000000 (26.5 Billion Rupees)
PRK to USD ~ $168521462.64 (168.5 million dollars)
Good collection by government only in fees if 53 million people just opt for the access option.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:45pm
This is blackmail and harassment!
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Jun 21, 2019 03:48pm
Rs500 would be charged for each attempt to access one's profile. Another taxation by targeting poor citizens to check their own bank accounts, properties, utilities bills, etc. Complete overhaul of FBR is required.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:50pm
Shabbar Zaidi is doing more than expectation. I believe, soon system will be changed.
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Jun 21, 2019 03:58pm
Good job
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Jun 21, 2019 04:02pm
Just out of curiosity I wanted to check the database I found out that you need to pay 500 Rs to check your details. Absolute bummer! I wish they had read about consumer psychology. My fellow bureaucrats never disappoint me.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:04pm
Excellent.Means things are moving in positive direction to expand the tax net.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:06pm
This is an excellent initiative, which I am sure will yield the desired results, however, FBR also need to review its current online system of Tax filing, I am trying to recover my password from IRIS system since last 2 months, made a lot of follow-up calls on FBR help line but sadly all efforts went in to vain. I wish to declare my assets but it looks like that FBR is not interested.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:08pm
It should be free of cost..
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Jun 21, 2019 04:09pm
Why pay 500?
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Jun 21, 2019 04:16pm
Good one, FBR will collect at least $100M in fees
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Jun 21, 2019 04:19pm
Really a useful move to render the country's taxation process transparent.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:20pm
Ok so for a small sum of 500 PKR I can get anyone’s financial data. Given the corrupt individuals any security measures applied can’t be trusted until they can prove that they have technical, procedural and administrative controls thoroughly tested by a reputed cyber security company and results of the security testing must be published for public to scrutinise.
Just a thought really.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:28pm
Its good for now but please make a legal framework for the upcoming Facebook digital currency Libra. It is expected to launch in 2020. Government needs to work with Facebook or either shutdown Facebook completely. Now, there will be no middle way for the government. Libra will most likely to impact the developing countries such as ours.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:33pm
Why the fee of 500 PKR if someone wants to check their tax profile? And that too for every attempt?
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Jun 21, 2019 04:40pm
salaries of all govt employees and pensions from federal to provincial be brought between 30 to 75 thousand including all allowances for stabilizing economy and indirect taxes be cut to zero.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:40pm
Why charge/fee for it? This should be available to all tax payers with out any charges? By the way which facility tax payers get from tax office?
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Jun 21, 2019 04:43pm
FBR is trying to facilitate people but in same trying to do business with charging 500 fee. It makes complicated, why it is not free, charging fee it make difficult for most of the people to pay online
Still they do not want to keems things simpley
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Jun 21, 2019 04:44pm
Hope and pray that things work out well for Pakistan.
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Jun 21, 2019 04:47pm
Shabbar knows the way to handle Pakistanis
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Jun 21, 2019 04:56pm
How about data leakage and privacy of people?
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Jun 21, 2019 05:02pm
Finally, moves in the right direction. Now tax base will definitely increase.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:06pm
They are starting a security mayhem.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:06pm
Why in the first place we need to pay for viewing our data, why it is not being accessible as free to verify.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:07pm
Though Chairman FBR was from private sector and now have become Federal Government Servant but he cannot see through prism that majority of the people would even not bother to send a text message on the given number 9966.
The scenario is totally different. There is a proverb in Urdu language آ بیل مجھے مار the translation in English which I found on Google is "Ow Me Kill Me".
There is a lot of threatening and harrasment going on from government side and then Chairman FBR is expecting that people will get them registered themselves after receiving the code for registration on the system and that too @ Rs 500/- to gain access to their data.
To launch this system PM should first make it mandatory for all federal and provincial government servants to create their individual profile history and once government servants have complied with the orders then government can ask members of FPCCI and its affiliated chambers to follow the suit.
Tax evaders know very well as how to evade taxes.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:08pm
Is it some thing in the line of “The Big Brother”? Surveillance?
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Jun 21, 2019 05:10pm
Can we please have some clarification regarding overseas pakistani’s In this regard.
Do they need to declare assets as well mainly the property as bring overseas Pakistanis who are living abroad and working abroad but bought some property in Pakistan in last x number of years. Those could be in installments as well.
Overseas Pakistanis are not able to access this new system as well because one need to generate the code on Pakistan mobile while in Pakistan.
Please specify about the 30th June deadline for overseas Pakistanis as they are not in the country.
Thanks
Shahzad- Dubai
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Jun 21, 2019 05:15pm
Good job done,just stop access of tax staff with tax payer and change their negative/black mailing attitude,lot of money will pure in.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:17pm
can anyone comment on what this would be used for? What are the benefits ? Could false bank accounts be detected through this ?
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Jun 21, 2019 05:26pm
Excellent system. Just checked my profile. Very pleased to see such a detailed and accurate report. It even gives all the foreign trips over last 5 years. Way to go Pakistan.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:27pm
Overall a step the right direction. However, Rs.500 is not a nominal fee, Rs. 50 is a nominal fee!
Govt. should have made this either free or minimal. The eventual purpose of this portal is that citizens can check that the govt knows about the fact that their lifestyles do not corroborate to their share of taxes and may come after them. Hence its better that they act according to law, become filers and start paying taxes. Now, Rs. 500 to access this information is enough of a deterrent and people will not go to the portal in first place! Coupled with the fact that FBR does not have the resources to go after each and everyone of them. Why do we make simple things so complex that it defeats the very purpose of an initiative? Hope that sanity would prevail and this fee is either waived or reduced substantially..
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Jun 21, 2019 05:27pm
Very good.
Making use of technology reduces chances of corruption
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Jun 21, 2019 05:37pm
Very good initiative... I just created the account (it was super easy to do it). All of the information on me was correct in the system, but incomplete. A lot of my travels were missing. No info on foreign assets (though declared in previous tax returns). I found it to be very basic info that FBR has on me.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:38pm
I wonder who would pay PKR 500 each time while accessing profile.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:40pm
Also get help from Germany or Scandinavian countries about effective and efficient tax-collection system. Make it sure a flawless and automatic tax-collection system is implemented. Remember without taxes you can not run a country.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:45pm
So all i need is the CNIC and phone duplicate sim and getting access to anyone's financial data is a click away.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:51pm
This is good step towards making people aware of the data that the government has on them, and give them the independence to access their information. Prevent identity theft, fraud, by putting in place proper bio-metric checks and weed out any suspicious activities. Use this information to also identify the weakest sections of society and ensure that the outreach of all government programs to help eliminate poverty, provide access to healthcare, education, etc. reaches those for whom it is intended. Good initiative.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:53pm
A disaster of privacy for businessmen and people alike in Pakistan. Sim duplication is easy and sadly now anyone can get the data for anyone for malicious purposes. Nadra data is already online and this is a ticking timebomb of privacy leakage.
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Jun 21, 2019 05:57pm
Why 500 rupees? it should be free of cost. No one understand what to do after visiting this page. No videos no explanations.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:00pm
Awesome work! Hats off to Imran Khan for bringing this to the fore!!!!
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Jun 21, 2019 06:06pm
Cheap tactics to make money. Why can't it be free?
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Jun 21, 2019 06:21pm
Much needed change in the era of technology. You can not lie to the computer. It remembers every single detail about you. Yes, now 53 million people will have to file tax returns and pay income tax/property tax as we pay in Canada.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:23pm
very good. it will make life more easy of corrupt officials of FBR FIA Customs and police to blackmail the innocent people by checking their data and demand or ransom money to evaluate how much person is worth it. This system works where Gov officials are honest and data protection law applies. Pakistan is a lawless country where these things don't exist.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:29pm
Good move! Keep it up Pakistan!!
Dr Beng Wang, Shanghai
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Jun 21, 2019 06:29pm
Good! FBR is heading in the right direction.
This is the first time in the history of Pakistan, FBR has shared this information with the public that Out of hundred thousand big companies Only Fifty Thousand are registered; therefore, they do not even file their Tax Returns.
One wonders why this information was kept secret from the general public by the previous FBR's Chairpersons and how in the world those companies were allowed to work without registering themselves to the government?
One must ask, why the FBR did not take action against those companies earlier? Who is/are behind those companies?
Anyways, I commend Mr. Shabbar Zaidi's efforts to bring those companies
and other tax evaders into the Tax Net.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:29pm
FBR going e-Profile but complaints to The Honorable Chairman are still only acceptable via hard copy.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:37pm
The Fee to check one's own profile is pretty high.
FBR may want to charge Rs 500 per year instead of each instance.
Please keep things simple and affordable or reasonable.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:42pm
Lifestyle monitoring - that is too much, too difficult, and very private. Let people enjoy their lives. Do not go that far.
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Jun 21, 2019 06:48pm
What else can they do to track and trap as many tax e vaders and defaulters in the "Land of the Pure" as possible?
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Jun 21, 2019 06:56pm
Dear Pak Govt.,
It is my request that you come up with mechanism and law that all Pakistani citizens who are dual nationals and living out of Pakistan pay annual tax (something small such as $USD 20 per person).
I am dual Pak-Canadian citizen living in Canada and would love to pay for myself and for family. This will also ensure dual Pakistani citizens are made responsible for Pakistan as well.
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Jun 21, 2019 07:00pm
How can this fee of RS500 be justified as both FBR and NADRA are public institutions and it is their core responsibility to serve the citizens.
I have full access to my tax information/profile in Australia and it is totally free of any fee or cost.
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Jun 21, 2019 07:00pm
"He further said that Rs500 would be charged for each attempt to access one's profile."
Rs 500 for each attempt to access profile is just ridiculous. Even if they had to charge fee, one time payment should have been charged
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Jun 21, 2019 07:11pm
FBR should make online tax declaration method so easy that every individual could do it without any professional assistance.
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Jun 21, 2019 07:15pm
why 500 fees ?
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Jun 21, 2019 07:18pm
Where Rs 500 fee to be deposited?
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Jun 21, 2019 07:26pm
It's more dangerous than useful. Government offices have laughable cyber security and information access auditing in general, imagine the damage if your information ends up in wrong hands.
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Jun 21, 2019 07:31pm
If 53 million people pay Rs 500 each, that converts to over US$170M
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Jun 21, 2019 07:33pm
Good initiative. Now some people will go underground alongwith their land cruisers
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Jun 21, 2019 07:36pm
And Pakistani tax officials will use this data to blackmail and harass innocent citizens.
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Jun 21, 2019 07:47pm
@Sage, the government already has the information, so the probability of this going in wrong hands always existed.
There system helps all tax evaders to see what Government knows about them
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Jun 21, 2019 07:50pm
All personal data online?
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Jun 21, 2019 08:00pm
I just accessed my profile on the system. Incompetent system, doesnt even know I am married or that i have a mobile connection duly verified with my thumb. How can we expect it do advanced analysis of expenses and lifestyle. Also, the much touted bank accounts data is missing, and not to mention land data from the provinces, there's no field for these on the system.
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Jun 21, 2019 08:07pm
@Umair, rs500 ka pizza khaa jatey ho laikin service free chaiey shabash
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Jun 21, 2019 08:08pm
Good work. Shabbar Zaidi saab
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Jun 21, 2019 08:11pm
And what are you supposed to do after looking at this information?
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Jun 21, 2019 08:15pm
@Ameen, you predict but I see that happening in future.
The average life expectancy in Pakistan is 66.4 years. Let them have some privacy and let them enjoy their lives.
But people should pay their due taxes. Must must. That taxes ensures state of the art infrastructure (roads and bridges and landscaping, greenery, etc), affordable health and decent living for all - that eventually reduces crime and other social ills. Please please pay taxes - a Pakistani request from abroad.
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Jun 21, 2019 08:16pm
Good to hear. Hope for the best
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Jun 21, 2019 08:20pm
Fee is a barrier and should be a one off.
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Jun 21, 2019 08:24pm
Having used the system, I believe it is not fit for purpose:
1. Purpose: Discourage benami ownership by giving access to assets data to common person. Unfit: Rs 500 fee means a driver, faloode wala will never want to see what sahib may have registered on their name.
2. Purpose: Encourage the rich to file for the amnesty by showing them that FBR knows what they have. Unfit: No land ownership data, majority of black money goes there in domestic economy.
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Jun 21, 2019 08:28pm
Plus the system does guard sufficiently against abuse. Instead of receiving password on mobile number you enter in the system, it should just ask for NIC no. and then send password on the mobile number(s) registered with your NIC. This way, even if a crony 'sahib' was trying to access his 'malis' profile, the mali would get a text (in urdu) on his phone.
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Jun 21, 2019 08:37pm
Access should be free for current tax payers as a small token of gratitude to old tax payers
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Jun 21, 2019 08:39pm
Absolutely the best way to make people worried. Knowing that the government knows will be a great motivator. I just checked min, and it was pretty accurate, although travels were not complete.
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Jun 21, 2019 09:34pm
Why are not the stolen funds being recovered from the two top
Political families (Nawzz, zardari)?
What is the use of putting the two top guys in jail and spend more on their VIP up keep from either borrowed funds or tax money from the poor.
It has been over a year and beside lot of committees and noise nothi g has been recovered yet. These families are outsmarting the govt. On one hand they have time tonite funds even more by investing in joint ventures abroad so it will become difficult to find anything easily and on the other hand they are buying time and hoping storm will be over soon.
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Jun 21, 2019 10:05pm
Rs. 500 to our own data. This is subtle and fashionable way of taking money by tax men. Before we had to give to the tax men's door man. Like it. Already checked mine. Happy for Naya Tax ways.
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Jun 21, 2019 10:19pm
people complaining here about 500 rupees are most probably live abroad because that amount is not
much here. you can't even get a decent cup of coffee in this country.
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Jun 21, 2019 10:28pm
No thanks. I don’t want to pay each time to access my own information.
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Jun 21, 2019 11:16pm
@Newborn, ruled by aliens.. when you say people don't pay taxes because they don't love Pakistan. Not sure what that means, nobody loves paying taxes in any country, that's a given rule but it needs to be done because every insititution, either personal (Household), business, government needs money to run and as citizens it is important we play our part in doing so. We need to trust IK on this, he will make a difference
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Jun 21, 2019 11:19pm
Half of these commenters haven't paid taxes in their lives but are quick to question the burden on the taxpayers, like they know it all.
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Jun 21, 2019 11:29pm
500 PKR is not acceptable. Many people do not have debt/credit card or they are not aware of esahulat etc. This is imported idea and bound to fail.
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Jun 21, 2019 11:39pm
@zee - Totally agree with you. Why I have to pay Rs500 to gain access to my data. This is not fair and not done anywhere in the world. Not a good way to encourage people to pay taxes.
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Jun 21, 2019 11:45pm
Why I need to see this info for one time only for 500. We are not fool. It should be free or max 100 for a year with unlimited attempts during the year.
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Jun 21, 2019 11:56pm
Good effort from FBR but in reality they should focus more on increasing the tax net who would use the site when majority of people do not pay their taxes
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Jun 22, 2019 12:10am
Shabbar is a good businessman as he came up with the idea to make money by making us buy our own information.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:17am
@Newborn, Every Pakistani has to pay his share of tax. Peopledont pay because we have become self self centered and lost confidence in the previous governments,
Once people pay their tax thy have a right to hold their government to account.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:18am
@zee, How else will the cost be recovered and why not pay 500.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:18am
@KASHIF, good point
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Jun 22, 2019 12:26am
It is unfair and illegal to hold data on the public and charge them for access to check this information.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:28am
@Raja Ali, very valid concern.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:36am
Lets look at the facts first, the literacy rate of Pakistan is what? Considering that, and I mean no disrespect by it, only using a name, how will Boota Khan check his information, he can't even write his name, he has to use his thumb print as his signature. So the whole idea is targeting less than 30% of Pakistan, and the government expects the people to pay a fee of Rs 500, which in the rest of the world, being an online website, its free.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:46am
It does work and complete family tree is mapped . Kudos to FBR , go behind these tax evaders.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:49am
payment via credit card not working
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Jun 22, 2019 01:20am
Just read "Disclaimer", they don't trust their own data. The information is incomplete.......
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Jun 22, 2019 01:37am
In USA, one can view his/her Tax Returns online for FREE and can get the Copy of his/her Tax Return for $50 from the IRS.gov site, please see an excerpt below
https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account
Your payoff amount, updated for the current calendar day
The balance for each tax year for which you owe
Up to 24 months of your payment history
Key information from your current tax year return as originally filed.
Once you have viewed your information, you can:
Select an electronic payment option
Go directly to Get Transcript without having to log in again
My question is why Pakistanis has to pay for each service after filing their Tax Return(s)?
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Jun 22, 2019 01:42am
@zee, nothing is free dear!
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Jun 22, 2019 03:22am
@Hassan has raised a very important point regarding the Rs500 Fee and an overnight Faloday Wala multi-millionaire.
This service has to be Free.
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Jun 22, 2019 03:44am
@Shahzad Zia, The Urdu version indicates that overseas Pakistani can use an email instead of a Pak registered mobile. APPARENTLY you need CNIC number and you get a code for verification. Once you have that and you try to register the system asks a couple of personal question, and only when verified you are registered. That's when you can pay. The article also IMPLIES that the payment of 500 PKR for 4 months.
Such system are in use in West and are pretty simple. In a country like Pakistan, however, they would be open for abuse (lack of education) and cyber threats, so the govt will have to be extremely vigilant. Ensuring the security of private should be top priority. In recent years, a number of top western companies have had cyber sttacks, do this would be a gem of a target for hackers.
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Jun 22, 2019 04:52am
@Newborn, confusing comments,would you please elaborate.
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Jun 22, 2019 05:47am
Again it is the tax payer who has to pay a fee ie a (fine)of Rs 500. 00 . Is there any facility, any favour that a person may expect from FBR ?. This facility would be a source of incentive if provided free of cost at least to those who are holding Tax Registration No.
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Jun 22, 2019 06:02am
The fee of Rs.500 for checking one's profile should not be charged from active filers and minimal amount of not more than Rs. 50 may be charged from non filers.
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Jun 22, 2019 07:47am
Tax payers will have access to their personal profile after they would pay Rs500 for each attempt to access their profle. This is injustce with tax payers. They should avail the facility free of cost.
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Jun 22, 2019 11:10am
All said and done; I sincerely hope that the security protocols are in place and it doesn’t get hacked or gets sold on the dark-web. As that would be the final nail in the coffin of patriotism.
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Jun 22, 2019 12:10pm
There is no proper guide lines for over seas Pakistanis, we have bought properties through legal means by paying taxes but still haven't opened files with FBR. We need proper guide lines to open files on line with FBR as we cannot come to Pakistan just to open tax file. I tried this new system but failed to get through as it requires mob. number for authority code. Over Seas Pakistanis should be facilitated with more options and clear guide lines.
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Jun 22, 2019 03:12pm
I have paid and got registered and found crap on the site. There is nothing valuable a very poor system design.
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Jun 22, 2019 05:07pm
Twenty two b are in a confusion.
They should fix a limit as they have fixed for payment of tax on salary income, for people who should not worry eg. reg. their bank accounts, moveable and immoveable property, utility bills etc. etc.
At presnt everything is open to examination/discretion . which is going to pose problems for all that is tax collectors and general public both. Someone is looking to rentals others are collecting information of witholding tax and the other is watching foreign travel. They should try to simplify it so that the scheme is understood by each and everyone.
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Jun 22, 2019 06:01pm
Portal does not let register overseas Pakistanis....
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Jun 22, 2019 08:21pm
@Shahzad Zia, Yes we all want to know that... need more clarification from government officials regarding requirements for overseas Pakistanis.
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Jun 22, 2019 09:46pm
How to do online taxation
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