FBR to begin mapping markets, shops nationwide from Friday: Kayani

ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (APP): Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani on Thursday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to start mapping markets and individual shops across the country from Friday (October 2) in collaboration with representatives of the business community to facilitate implementation of the Easy Tax Scheme for shopkeepers.

Chairing a review meeting on implementation of the scheme, the minister directed FBR officials to jointly visit markets with traders’ representatives according to a daily schedule and map each market and shop.

He further directed the FBR officials to brief shopkeepers about the Easy Tax Scheme during the mapping exercise.

The meeting was informed that a technical issue relating to the “Other Income” column in tax returns, identified and reported by traders, had been resolved.

Addressing the meeting, Kayani said shopkeepers had been provided a scheme according to their choice and there was now no justification for not filing tax returns.

He said the penalties had also been introduced in consultation with and with the consent of the traders.

The minister urged shopkeepers to benefit from the 15-day extension granted for filing tax returns.

He said after expiry of the deadline, a shopkeeper would have to pay a fine of Rs10,000 in the first month, Rs25,000 in the second month and Rs50,000 in the third month.

The meeting held a detailed review of the implementation of the Easy Tax Scheme and progress made so far.

The meeting also decided that review meetings on implementation of the Easy Tax Scheme would continue.

Trader leaders Ajmal Baloch, Kashif Chaudhry and Habib Fakhruddin were also present.

Member Strategic Transformation Dr Hamid Atiq, Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal and senior FBR officials, besides chief commissioners and commissioners from across the country, participated in the meeting through video link.