Karachi, January 20, 2025 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reached a significant achievement, with the number of active taxpayers in Pakistan surging to a record high of 6.07 million. This milestone reflects a notable increase in taxpayer participation, as reported by the FBR on Monday. The FBR issued the Active Taxpayers List (ATL) for the tax year 2024, based on tax returns filed up until January 19, 2025. The number of active taxpayers, at 6.07 million, marks an unprecedented high, surpassing the previous record of 5.34 million active taxpayers as of November 1, 2024. This rise in the number of active taxpayers is attributed to several contributing factors. Sources within the FBR informed PkRevenue that one of the primary motivators for citizens filing their income tax returns is the looming restriction on various financial transactions for non-filers. These restrictions include a ban on purchasing motor vehicles, properties, and maintaining bank accounts for individuals who fail to file their tax returns, even if they have taxable income. The FBR’s new system, which allows real-time updates to the ATL, represents a crucial shift from the previous practice of updating the list annually in March. Under the updated framework introduced through SRO 1638(I)/2024, the ATL is now refreshed daily, ensuring that individuals and companies who file their income tax returns are promptly recognized. This dynamic approach aligns with the FBR’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency and efficiency in Pakistan’s tax administration. In order to incentivize timely filing, the FBR has introduced stringent penalties…