ISLAMABAD – Amid a stalemate between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Preferential Trade Authority (PTA) and mobile phone companies over SIM blocking for non-applicants, the federal government is looking for an alternative option for tax refund.
It has been reported that the federal government will impose an additional tax on individuals who do not file their taxes, specifically targeting moving loads and packages.
The new decision has not yet received approval from the Council of Ministers, and it is expected to enter into force as of May 15 after detailed negotiations. Sources from within the government revealed that an additional tax of 2.5 percent will be imposed in addition to a tax on non-depositors.
Last week, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shared data of non-filers with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) while the apex tax collection body plans to challenge the PTA and mobile phone companies in the Islamabad High Court for not blocking SIM cards of non-filers. Despite the failure of previous negotiations.
Telecom operators have opposed blocking SIM cards for more than half a million non-providers, citing reasons such as women's use of SIM cards registered in their spouse's names and the potential damage to the digitalization and telecom economy.
FBR asks PTA and telcos to block SIM cards for over half a million non-providers
