Real-time machine-to-machine data integration with NADRA has been instituted by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), along with further linkages with other key financial transaction organizations. It is a move in the direction of the FBR’s plan to broaden the tax base.
FBR has prepared a report on broadening the tax base for the coming 2023-24 tax year. It elaborates on technology use and data analytics with real-time monitoring through dashboards. Aggressive nudging tactics include using high-profile unregistered persons and sending them SMS and WhatsApp texts urging them to file their returns. FBR has also been doing a campaign with the media to encourage citizens to use the Malomaat portal and file their returns through it.
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The FBR signed agreements with 28 departments for the transfer of real-time data. They have revved up the Maloomat and Tax Ray portals, making them very potent development tools for field formations. One of the biggest strides has been the establishment of 145 District Tax Offices (DTO) that are earmarked strictly for broadening the tax base and acting against non-filers.
Under the chairmanship of NADRA, a special committee formed by the senior officials of both organizations was constituted to make recommendations on actions directed toward broadening the tax base. The FBR is implementing those recommendations. TELCOs have been directed to put Section 114B of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 to temporarily turn off SIMs of non-filers.
The record for the highest number of 3.6 million new taxpayers in any given year was set by FBR in the tax year 2023, of which 1,780,406 filed returns.