One-Third of Pakistani Tax Filers Declare Zero Income, FBR Plans Major Audit Crackdown

A startling development has surfaced in Pakistan’s ongoing tax collection campaign: nearly one-third of all income tax filers, about 1.7 million out of 5.5 million, have declared no taxable income for the current fiscal year. This surge in ‘nil’ returns poses a significant challenge for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as it seeks to broaden the country’s narrow tax base. Adding to the concern, FBR officials have identified almost one million filers who reported lower incomes this year compared to last year. The FBR is now preparing to launch a major audit drive to detect possible tax evasion. “We have found 977,000 filed returns where the declared income was shown as less than in the last fiscal year. Certain exporters are showing losses in their returns. The FBR has decided to dispatch tax notices to them after the deadline of October 31, requesting them to revise their returns, or the law will take its course,” a senior official told The News. Despite the high number of ‘nil’ returns, FBR says the data collected will be used to identify potential taxpayers and convert this information into revenue. The FBR has already sent three reminders to filers, including one warning that the authority has access to their financial transaction data. After the October 31 deadline, the FBR will send targeted messages to those who reported lower incomes than last year, urging them to revise their returns. The tax authority has hired 2,000 auditors to conduct a comprehensive audit for the current fiscal year. The FBR extended the tax filing deadline to October 31, anticipating an additional three million returns. The agency is now gearing up for a robust enforcement campaign to ensure compliance and boost tax revenues.