Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced that online filing will now be mandatory for all individual taxpayers.
According to the new amendment, income tax returns and withholding statements can now be submitted only electronically. The FBR has invited suggestions and objections from the public and stakeholders within 7 days.
According to the notification, this amendment has been proposed under sub-rule (2DD) of Rule 73, which aims to promote digital transparency and automated monitoring in the tax system.
The FBR’s announcement said that business integration has also been made mandatory for retailers. Now, retailers with withholding tax of more than Rs 100,000 will have to be connected to the FBR’s digital system.
Moreover, changes have also been made in the Sales Tax Rules 2006, according to which retailers paying withholding tax up to Rs 500,000 will also come under this rule.
The FBR notification stated that the new law has been included under Section 150Q, while the integration will be implemented under Section 43A of the Sales Tax Act 1990.
According to tax experts, these reforms are a major step towards digital transformation, transparency and broadening of the tax net in Pakistan’s financial system.
