The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has approved a proposal to prohibit non-filers from traveling abroad. The meeting, chaired by Senator Salim Mandviwala, resulted in an important decision impacting individuals who fail to file their tax returns.
According to the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), actions against non-filers will be enforced under the Income Tax General Order. Exemptions will be made for individuals performing Hajj and Umrah, young children, students, and overseas Pakistanis holding the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
In addition to the travel ban, non-filers will face disconnection of their mobile SIMs, electricity, and gas connections. Senator Farooq H. Naik emphasized that this measure should be treated as akin to being placed on the exit control list.
He also highlighted that non-filers already face higher withholding tax rates, and their mobile and business operations are at risk of being suspended.
The Chairman of the FBR revealed that the list of 500,000 non-filers includes individuals with an annual income exceeding Rs 2 million, who had previously declared their income in tax returns. Those who temporarily file tax returns to purchase assets such as cars, plots, or houses will also be subject to additional taxes.
