ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced that nearly 67 per cent more income tax returns were received for the tax year 2018 compared to the preceding year.
The board received 2.51 million tax returns for the first time in its history as against 1.49m returns filed tax year 2017.
Last date for filing of income tax returns for tax year 2018 was extended eight times consecutively to facilitate individuals to file their returns. FBR has set a target of tax returns of 4m for tax year 2019.
FBR official spokesperson Dr Hamid Ateeq told media that the last date for the filing of tax returns will not be extended any more.
FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi has requested managing directors Sui Northern Gas Company Ltd and Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd that consumers not present on Active Tax Payers List (ATL) should not be provided commercial and industrial gas connections.
In separate letters addressed to the MDs of these gas utilities, the FBR chairman said section 181 AA of the Income Tax Ordinance states that “…notwithstanding anything contained in any law, for the time being in force, any application for commercial or industrial connection, of electricity or gas shall not be processed and such connection, shall not be provided unless the person applying for electricity or gas connection is registered under Section 181.
FBR asks SSGC and SNGPL to deny gas connections to enterprises not on ATL
This provision of law, which contains a ‘non obstante’ clause overriding other laws for the time being in force mandatorily requires every person who is provided a commercial or industrial gas connection to be on ATL.