Islamabad, October 7, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has confirmed the government’s plans to introduce a money bill aimed at imposing stringent restrictions on non-filers of income tax returns, marking a major step in its efforts to enhance tax compliance across the country. In an announcement on Monday, a senior official from the FBR disclosed that the national tax agency is poised to bring approximately 2.8 million potential taxpayers into the formal tax net. This expansion, the official highlighted, is expected to inject a significant Rs1.6 trillion into the national economy. Speaking to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), FBR spokesperson Bakhtiar Muhammad stated, “There are around 3.5 million top households liable to pay taxes, yet 2.8 million of them are evading their fiscal obligations.” The spokesperson emphasized that the FBR is now intensifying efforts to enforce compliance among these individuals. The current government, determined to bolster the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio, has implemented a comprehensive fiscal strategy, which has already yielded notable improvements in tax filings and revenue collection. Bakhtiar noted that, as a result of the government’s prudent fiscal policies, tax return filings have surged by an extraordinary 105% compared to the previous fiscal year. Filings increased from 1.8 million to 3.7 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year alone, a significant achievement. To further tighten the noose on non-compliance, the FBR plans to introduce 15 specific restrictions on non-filers over the next two to three months. These restrictions will be enacted through a finance bill, making life increasingly difficult for individuals who fail to file their tax returns. “Non-filers will be prohibited from purchasing properties and vehicles, traveling abroad, and opening current accounts in any bank,” Bakhtiar added. He also underscored that the FBR intends to completely abolish the non-filer category, making tax filing mandatory for all eligible individuals. The FBR is also enhancing its capacity for enforcement through advanced automation systems. Bakhtiar highlighted that income generated from both investments and…