Pakistan to Eliminate Non-Filer Status, Says FBR

FBR

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced plans to abolish the non-filer category in Pakistan, ARY News reported.

FBR spokesperson Bakhtiar Muhammad shared that non-filers will no longer be allowed to purchase vehicles or property by paying extra taxes. Starting October 1, non-filers will also face a travel ban, preventing them from traveling abroad.

Bakhtiar Muhammad explained that not all Pakistanis are non-filers, but individuals earning Rs50,000 or more per month who do not file tax returns will fall into this group.

As part of its efforts to tackle tax evasion, the FBR also plans to block SIM cards of non-filers.

Additionally, starting October 1, the FBR will launch a crackdown on unregistered businesses, focusing on those operating under fake or undisclosed ownership. The FBR will use third-party data collection methods to gather information, with current records showing only 300,000 manufacturers registered for sales tax.