Computerised National Identity Cards of those not filing tax returns to be blocked | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Computerised National Identity Cards of those not filing tax returns to be blocked

By: Hanif Khalid

ISLAMABAD: It has been decided that the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) of those National Tax Number (NTN) holders who are not filing tax returns will be blocked. The individuals and associations of persons are supposed to file their annual income returns by the end of the current month while companies are allowed to file annual tax returns by the end of year.

About 1.5 million annual income returns were filed during last year against 3.4 million NTN holders in the country. But 0.9 million of them were salaried persons. There are only 0.6 million shopkeepers, private businessmen, traders and industrialists but facts are contrary to this information.

According to the data procured by FBR from FIA and Nadra, over 2 million persons proceed abroad along with their families for luxury visits. Over 1.8 million Pakistanis visit the USA, Europe, Far East and Gulf states for several weeks every year. This figure does not include some 0.2 Pakistanis who travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj. But none of these 1.8 million families have submitted income tax returns. If 0.9m income tax returns are filed out of 3.4 million NTN holders, it shows that 2.5 million NTN holders are not filing their tax returns.

The FBR has decided to take action against 4.3 million tax defaulters and their CNICs shall be blocked if they fail to file tax returns by the end of this month. Their bank accounts shall be frozen and NTN will be suspended. The mobile telephone SIM issued on their CNICs will also be blocked. Such persons will not be able to travel abroad as they are not to be issued passports.

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