ByFederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reported significant progress in its efforts to bring small businesses into the tax net. As of Thursday, over 39,134 retailers have registered under the recently launched Tajir Dost scheme.
Tajir Dost App Aims for Wider Tax Net
The scheme utilizes the Tajir Dost app, a mobile application designed to simplify tax registration for retailers. The government’s ambitious goal is to register 3.5 million retailers across Pakistan.
Multiple Registration Options Offered
Traders and shopkeepers have several options for registering under the Tajir Dost scheme:
- Through the Tax Asaan App, a user-friendly mobile application.
- Via the FBR’s official web portal.
- By visiting FBR’s tax facilitation centers located across the country.
Incentives for Early Registration
The Tajir Dost scheme offers attractive incentives to encourage registration:
- A 25% discount on monthly advance tax payments for those who pay the full amount upfront.
- A 25% discount on monthly advance tax payments for non-filers who submit their tax return for the 2023 tax year before the July 15th deadline.
Registration Breakdown by City
The FBR data reveals a breakdown of registrations by major cities:
- Karachi: 6,562
- Lahore: 15,057
- Islamabad: 3,400
- Rawalpindi: 5,479
- Peshawar: 3,452
- Quetta: 2,172
- Other cities: 3,012
FBR’s Continued Efforts to Expand Tax Base
The progress in retailer registration under the Tajir Dost scheme demonstrates the FBR’s commitment to broadening the tax base in Pakistan. Additionally, the FBR recently blocked over 3,600 SIM cards belonging to non-filers, highlighting their multi-pronged approach to increasing tax compliance.
What’s Next?
The FBR is expected to continue providing data on non-filers to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for potential SIM card blocking. This campaign, coupled with the Tajir Dost scheme, signifies the FBR’s ongoing efforts to formalize the economy and increase tax revenue collection.
