Over 3,400 SIMs blocked so far amid crackdown on non-filers

Process of blocking SIMs to continue gradually

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has intensified its drive against tax evaders, blocking over 3,400 mobile SIMs of non-filers so far, with many more to follow.

According to FBR officials, the list of non-filers has been shared with telecom companies, and the process of blocking SIMs will continue gradually. The FBR has identified 56,671 individuals who have not filed their tax returns, and their mobile SIMs will be blocked in small groups.

The Income Tax General Order 2024 has already been issued, empowering the FBR to take this measure. The move is aimed at encouraging tax compliance and widening the tax net.

The FBR has warned that those who fail to file their tax returns will face not only SIM blocking but also other consequences, including fines and penalties.

The tax authority is using data analytics and other tools to identify tax evaders and bring them into the tax net. The drive against non-filers is part of the government’s efforts to increase tax revenue and reduce the budget deficit.

Read More: SIM cards of 3,500 users not filing tax returns blocked; Check more latest updates here

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In an important development, telecom operators in Pakistan have apparently agreed to initiate a manual process of disabling the mobile SIMs of non-filers in small batches, blocking 5,000 tax evaders in the first phase, as per a post on X by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday.

The development comes a day after the GSM Association (GSMA), an international organisation that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, expressed concern over the Income Tax General Order (ITGO) issued by the FBR on April 30, 2024 over blocking mobile sims of non-filers.

“FBR has held a series of significant meetings with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom operators across Pakistan to ensure effective implementation of Income Tax General Order No. 1, issued under Section 114B of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

“As a result, telecom operators have agreed to initiate the manual blocking process in small batches till their systems are fully equipped to automate it,” the FBR said in its post on X, formerly Twitter.

Over 3,400 SIMs blocked so far amid crackdown on non-filers

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