TO enhance the number of income tax returns, the FBR has made it mandatory for all salaried persons having taxable income to file income tax returns electronically from the tax year 2015.

The overwhelming majority of the employees encouraged this updated system of the FBR because this system is very secure, fast, convenient and time-saving as well for taxpayers and has reduced paper work.

It has been observed that government employees are not able to understand this online system, or those who understand the system are not able to update their records or returns owing to the lack of proper guidance from FBR officers.

Therefore, those employees who want to submit their returns through e-filing turn to outsiders for help who also charge a minimum of Rs1,500 as fees.

Therefore, employees do not bother to submit returns.

This is risky as an outsider gets to know your financial/personal position. To increase the number of taxpayers the FBR chairman should organise workshops at the district level to pass on information about the importance of e-filing and the proper method to update their income tax returns.It should be made obligatory for every employee to attend it so that the number of taxpayers can be increased. This approach will go in favour of the government.

S. Ahmed Shaikh

Larkana

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2016