The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has unveiled a new mobile application called “Tajir Doost” aimed at documenting 3.2 million retailers and shopkeepers nationwide. The proposed system calculates a retailer’s tax liability based on FBR’s property valuation and shop rental value, with a 50% tax reduction incentive for voluntary registration.
The mobile app streamlines registration for all retailers, requiring details such as shop size, electricity meter number, and other information.
In its efforts to broaden the taxpayer base, FBR plans to launch door-to-door campaigns in January 2024 across four provincial capitals and Islamabad to register non-filing retailers and streamline tax filing. Evasion detection will be facilitated by cross-referencing tax filings with electricity meter data, enabling audits when necessary.
To ensure accuracy in valuations and payments, the FBR will implement strict supervision through random audits of assessments filed under the scheme. The scheme will be launched with minimal discretion for field offices to alter valuations, safeguarding potential revenue.
Monthly advance tax payments will offset final income tax liabilities at year-end during return filing to prevent double taxation. However, the FBR clarified that no refunds for advance tax payments would be issued.
The Tajir Doost app and these initiatives align with the FBR’s strategy to modernize tax processes, promote voluntary tax compliance, and enhance revenue collection through a systematic approach targeting retailers and shopkeepers across the country.
