ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is ready to serve notices to 100,000 non-filers of income tax returns having houses/apartments and vehicles as well as over 53 million citizens have been given access to the joint FBR and National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) ‘Tax Profiling System’ to check/verify their details of properties and assts.
A senior FBR official disclosed that the board has finalized a plan to issue notices to the owners of properties and vehicles in phase-wise manner. The general public can easily access to the information about their assets and bank accounts by using ‘Tax Profiling System’ available at the FBR website. If the data is accurate and citizen has not filed its return, then the person should be ready to pay Rs 40,000 penalty and face penal action as available under the law.
The process of issuance of notices for tax year 2018 would be started by the end of current month, FBR official added.
As the date for filing of return i.e. August 8 has been expired, the citizens have been provided a unique opportunity to check and verify their details of assets available with the FBR website. This would enable citizens to do their homework before receiving notice of filling of return in next 30 days.
FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi said that both filers and non-filers have been allowed to do asset inquiry by accessing the Nadra website or FBR portal being launched. The online FBR Tax Profiling System would enable 53 million people to check their bank details, properties, utility bills and travel history data.
The chairman FBR said that the portal would be helpful for people as they might know what information is available with the government and they can correct their return filing data if it is incorrect.
The government has launched two web-portals, containing information about the assets of around 53 million people, with an objective to facilitate citizens to know about their data available with the government and make corrections accordingly.
This data containing information about lavished lifestyle of people, expensive wealth, huge expenditure and the un-declared information can be used for assessment purposes.
The data is spread over 2 portals; Nadra and FBR websites. It contains information about bank accounts, properties, travel history, utilities, etc, of 53 million citizens. Anyone can access their own data to check their details. Currently, the data is based on property, bank accounts, utility bills and travel history while the FBR has also done plaza mapping to collect data.
FBR Tax Profiling System allows the citizens to view their profile created by correlating their data from multiple data sources of assets, expenses and life styles available with the government of Pakistan. Non-tax filers are especially encouraged to view their tax profiles and become part of the tax system, he said.
The data has been compiled with the help of the NADRA. He said that anyone on the basis of one’s computerised national identity card (CNIC) and cell phone number can request access to their information.
Another FBR official said that the FBR has decided to issue notices to at least 100,000 non-filers who own a house larger than five hundred square yards or a vehicle over 1,000 cc.
If you have not filed return and your information is available on the FBR website then be ready to receive notice in coming days, FBR official informed citizens on the condition of anonymity.
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