FBR SMS Alert is Making it Difficult for Tax Filers to Hide Bank Balances From Wives

A notice of attention was raised in the Senate after the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) sent SMS alerts to income tax filers regarding their bank balances, sparking a debate over financial privacy. Senator Asad Qasim, who presented the notice, argued that the FBR’s practice of sending such messages constitutes a violation of financial confidentiality. “People even hide their bank accounts from their wives,” he remarked, highlighting the sensitivity of the issue. In response, Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry defended the FBR’s actions, stating that the authority has full legal powers to send such notifications. He clarified that the SMS alerts were sent only to the relevant account holders, specifically those whose declared tax returns did not match their reported bank balances. The Law Minister added that the FBR can’t refrain from questioning taxpayers, stressing that tax evasion is a serious crime and that the FBR is operating strictly within the bounds of the law. Following the discussion, the presiding officer referred the matter to the Finance Committee for further review.