The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has intensified its crackdown on tax evaders, having blocked over 3,400 mobile SIMs of non-filers thus far, with plans to extend the measure to many more.
FBR officials have confirmed that a list of non-filers has been provided to telecom companies, with the process of SIM blocking set to continue progressively. The FBR has identified 56,671 individuals who have not submitted their tax returns, and their mobile SIMs will be blocked in small batches.
Under the newly issued Income Tax General Order 2024, the FBR has been granted the authority to implement these measures. The initiative aims to promote tax compliance and expand the tax base.
The FBR has issued warnings to those failing to file their tax returns, indicating that they will face not only the blocking of their SIMs but also additional repercussions, such as fines and penalties.
Utilizing data analytics and other advanced tools, the tax authority is identifying evaders to bring them into the tax net. This drive against non-filers aligns with the government’s broader efforts to increase tax revenue and address the budget deficit.
The blocking of mobile SIMs is viewed as a significant step towards enforcing tax compliance, with expectations of achieving positive outcomes in the near future.