The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is making progress in its efforts to expand the tax net, with a recent initiative showing positive results.
Over 7,000 mobile SIMs have been restored after their owners submitted tax returns, marking a successful phase in FBR's ongoing campaign.
FBR sources revealed that they have shared the data of 65,000 non-filers with telecom companies. These companies were instructed to block the mobile SIMs of individuals who failed to file their tax returns.
This action is part of a broader 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 individuals have now filed their tax returns and had their SIMs reactivated.
The FBR's campaign aims to improve tax collection and ensure that all eligible taxpayers contribute their fair share. The restoration of SIMs for those who complied is a positive sign that the measures are effective. By gradually closing the SIMs of non-filers, the FBR hopes to further increase compliance rates and bring more individuals into the tax net.