When will FBR cut mobile, gas, and electricity connections of non-filers?

ISLAMABAD: In a recent development, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has delayed its nationwide crackdown against non-filers.

The FBR had initially planned to suspend SIMs and utility connections, including gas and electricity, for individuals who failed to file their taxes in response to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) demand.

However, the decision has been reportedly delayed due to emerging legal issues.

Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that the action is being postponed due to the non-completion of the Income Tax General Order.

There are concerns within the FBR that taking such measures might lead to legal challenges in the courts.

This suggests that the specific date for the FBR to suspend SIM cards, gas, and electricity connections for non-filers remains uncertain.

This delay follows earlier reports that non-filers’ SIM cards and mobile phones would face suspension by the tax authority, causing panic among non-filers who feared potential disconnection of their SIMs as well as electricity and gas services.

The situation also created confusion regarding when the FBR would implement these measures following the expiration of the warning deadline.

According to insiders, the action against non-filers could potentially be initiated by March 1, once the active taxpayer list is released.

Following the resolution of legal concerns, the FBR plans to proceed with the suspension of SIMs and utility connections for those who have not fulfilled their tax obligations.

The IMF’s intervention, marked by the issuance of notices to hundreds of thousands of non-filers, is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing tax compliance in Pakistan.

As the FBR navigates legal intricacies, the looming crackdown underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering revenue collection and ensuring tax compliance across the country.

Read next: Pakistanis unimpressed by recent ‘cut’ in petrol price