PM orders crackdown on tax evaders

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to use modern means for tax collection to bring non-tax payers to the tax net and to facilitate existing tax payers.The FBR’s collection of Rs200 to 400 billion is more important from biggest tax evaders than Rs4000 billion collection from the routine taxpayers,” Prime Minister Imran Khan told the FBR team while chairing a meeting here on Tuesday. Without revising downward the annual tax collection target of Rs4398 billion, the premier told the FBR that the broadening of tax base must bring rich and affluent segment into net. The tax evaders faced prosecution in the modern world but in our country the FBR is burdening only salaried and existing taxpayers so focus should be shifted on those who are contributing nothing for the national exchequer.According to official press statement issued here on Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to use modern means for tax collection to bring non tax payers to the tax net and to facilitate existing tax payers.While taking decision to award certificates to top 200 taxpayers of the country on Wednesday (today), Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to bring biggest evaders into tax net and devise an effective strategy within next couple of months to make them example for other non-filers.The FBR has selected 100 biggest companies, 50 individuals and 50 AOPs who will be given certificates by the PM himself in order to recognise their contribution for increasing tax revenues of the country. The PM will give certificates to 200 top taxpayers on Wednesday (today). “Lets assure you that If I had not request for lenient attitude for my sister (Aleema Khan) I will never ask for anyone else to the FBR for showing any lenient attitude.Chairing a meeting regarding government's steps to collect revenue in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said tax evaders are foes of the nation and the country and they do not deserve any concession.The prime minister said focus should be made on tax evaders and non-filers instead of harassing regular tax payers. He said tax evaders and non-tax payers should be exposed before the people. He said indiscriminate action should be ensured against tax evaders and FBR officials, who facilitate theft of tax.The meeting was informed that over six thousand cases of high net worth individuals are under review from which a total income of over two billion rupees is expected of which 1.3 billion rupees have so far been received.It was told that sixty six cases of information and investigations are also being examined and over 1.5 billion rupees have also been collected in this matter.The FBR apprised that mapping of 2,000 plazas have been completed, while automatic system to collect tax has been installed at over 2,500 points of sale. It was said that a collection of 24.818 billion rupees is expected under new measures taken by the FBR and 11.882 billion rupees have already been collected.

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