ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has stepped up its taxpayer outreach campaign by engaging chambers, banks, power distribution companies and business organisations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a bid to further boost the filing of income tax returns as the last date of September 30, for the filing of income tax returns approaches.
A team of FBR’s Facilitation and Taxpayers Education (FATE) wing led by FBR, Member FATE, Nausheen Javaid Amjad and FATE, Chief, Tehmina Aamer visited Peshawar on Thursday and held separate meetings with The Bank of Khyber, Managing Director, Shamsul Qayum, KP Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President, Zahidullah Shinwari, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former President Fuad Ishaq, KP Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former President, Ghazafar Bilour, Anjuman-e-Tanzim-e-Tajiran KP, President, Sharafat Ali Mubarak, Peshawar Electric Supply Company, Chief Financial Officer, Yasir and sought their active role and assistance.
Nausheen used the meetings to brief her hosts on FBR’s efforts aimed at the facilitation of taxpayers, broadening the tax base as well as informing the taxpayers about the benefits of filing of income tax returns. She said FBR had started an extensive outreach and awareness campaign through the media as well as direct, one-on-one interaction with the captains and office-bearers of various industries, financial and business organisations, chambers and trade bodies to promote a culture of tax compliance.
FATE FBR member lauded the professionalism and sense of duty displayed by big organisations and companies in diligently reporting the salaries paid and taxes withheld from their employees. However, a lot of work was required to be done in motivating and urging the employees to file their tax returns and become filers to reap benefits, she noted. She said FBR was willing to work with organisations and give them any technical assistance and facilitation through training sessions and workshops to help their employees file their tax returns.
During the meetings, positive sentiments were expressed about the FBR’s initiative of building an interface with the taxpayers and shunning the practice of sending out tax notices in favour of more personalised and direct communication and interaction with the taxpayers to boost their confidence and win their support for the ongoing campaign for filing of income tax returns.
