ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is making headway in its efforts to widen the tax net, with a recent initiative yielding positive results.
More than 7,000 mobile SIMs have been restored after their owners submitted their tax returns, marking a successful phase of the ongoing FBR campaign.
FBR sources have revealed that they have shared the data of 65,000 non-filers with telecom companies. These companies were directed to block the mobile SIMs of individuals who failed to submit their tax returns.
The action is part of a wider initiative, targeting a total of 506,671 non-filers identified in a comprehensive list prepared by the FBR.
Under the Income Tax General Order, it was decided to gradually deactivate the SIMs of these non-filers to encourage compliance. The strategy seems to be working, as the latest figures show that 7,166 people have now submitted their tax returns and reactivated their SIMs.
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The objective of FBR’s campaign is to improve tax collection and ensure that all eligible taxpayers contribute their dues. Recovery of SIMs for those who comply is a positive sign that measures are effective. By phasing out the SIMs of non-filers, the FBR hopes to further increase the compliance rate and bring more people into the tax net.