The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has officially denied reports suggesting that the government is planning to introduce a mini-budget. During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, FBR’s Member of Inland Revenue Policy, Dr. Hamid Atiq Sarwar, clarified that no mini-budget is in the pipeline.
Dr. Sarwar also stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the imposition of new restrictions on non-filers in an effort to boost tax compliance. He further acknowledged that FBR’s audit system is currently inactive due to a shortage of auditors, and steps are being taken to address this issue. The government is considering the appointment of auditors and inspectors on a contractual basis to fill this gap.
The FBR is exploring partnerships with auditing professionals, including ACCA, ACMA, and Chartered Accountant firms, to recruit skilled auditors. An initial proposal suggests hiring 4,000 auditors, with 400 to be appointed in the first phase.
In addition to improving the audit system, FBR is working on bringing 2 million retailers into the tax net. The number of taxpayers has already reached 6 million, and messages have been sent to 1.5 million non-filers urging them to submit their tax returns.
FBR has also reiterated that the deadline for submitting income tax returns is September 30, with no plans for an extension. Non-filers may face further penalties in the coming days, and the scope of Tier-1 retailers is also being expanded to ensure better tax collection.
The government’s focus remains on strengthening the tax system and increasing the number of registered taxpayers, as part of its broader fiscal strategy.
