FINANCE Minister Shaukat Tarin Wednesday said the government would not spare any wilful tax defaulters, and those who would ignore tax notices of the FBR would have to face consequences.
Talking to newsmen at the Parliament House on Wednesday, he said the government was ready to negotiate with all stakeholders and after taking them into confidence effective enforcement would be done.
Similar assertions were also made in the past but such plans could not materialize due to stiff resistance by the vested interests.
However, this time round, the Government seems to be determined to go after tax defaulters as in the budget for the financial year 2021-22, additional revenues of Rs.506bn are based on Rs.264bn worth of policy measures and Rs.242bn of administrative, which implied that the authorities will have to go after tax evaders and defaulters to meet its tax collection target, which becomes somewhat sacrosanct in view of commitments made with the IMF.
However, much depends on actual implementation of the resolve as issuance of tax notices to existing tax-payers would amount to their harassment despite repeated assurances that they will not be burdened.
There are millions of businessmen and professionals, who earn millions every month but either they are not even filers or pay only a token amount as tax on their income.
Complete data of all such individuals and businesses should be available with tax officials concerned and on the basis of available information notices should be issued to them, which must be taken to the logical conclusion.
