Bill approved to ban non-filers from buying vehicles, property, open bank accounts 

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday approved the “Tax Law Amendment Bill 2024-25” banning non-filers from buying vehicles, property or opening bank accounts in the country.

The bill aims to curb tax evasion and expand the tax net by introducing stringent rules for non-compliant individuals and businesses.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla chaired a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance to discuss the “Tax Law Amendment Bill 2024-25” related to newly legalised tax laws in the country.

According to the bill, non-tax filers will not be able to buy large vehicles exceeding 800cc, purchase or sell properties and bungalows (above a specified value) and open bank accounts and buy shares in the stock market beyond certain limits.

A clause in the bill related to sharing data of “high risk” individuals with banks was also approved.

The meeting approved a clause in the bill requiring tax auditors and experts to keep taxpayers’ data confidential.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Langrial gave a detailed briefing on the salient features of bill, stating “Individuals will be required to prove their source of income and bank statement before buying vehicles or a property.

Senator Anusha Rahman said ‘before making new hiring, the FBR should recall its employees who are serving on deputation at various ministries if was facing the shortage of human resource.

A number of FBR officers are working on deputation in the commerce ministry and call them back.

FBR Chairman Langrial admitted that several FBR officers were on deputation in various federal ministries and “I am calling them back.”

“Once, I recalled an officer working in a ministry. In response, the secretary concerned asked how would he carry out their work if the officer was recalled. I had to give them a little more time to relieve the deputationist officer.”

Standing Committee Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla also asked the FBR chief to explain track and trace system saying “For years we have been hearing about this system. What has it added to the revenue and the tax net of the country?”

The FBR chairman asked the committee members to take approve the bill and as soon as the bill is approved, the FBR will forward it to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for its regulation.”

He said that “We will ask SBP to send letters to all banks that non-filers can’t open and operate major accounts. Together, we will have to work with the SBP to form a new system.”

Later, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance approved the Tax Amendment Bill 2024.

Earlier, the government presented the “Tax Law Amendment Bill 2024-25” in the National Assembly aimed at further tightening the noose around tax non-filers.