Non-filers to pay ‘more taxes’ on mobile recharge & bundles

ISLAMABAD: The Shehbaz-led government has decided to impose additional tax on non-filers as they will have to pay more tax on mobile loads and bundles, a private news channel reported on Friday.

As per the details, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has made a plan against non-filers, which is likely to be implemented on May 15. The government will levy a 2.5% additional tax on non-filers, along with withholding.

An additional tax on each load and an additional tax on mobile and data loads are also being considered. The data of non-filers was handed over to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

According to the sources, the FBR has also decided to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the PTA and cellular companies for blocking SIMs of non-filers.

FBR has started consultation with its legal team to file the petition.

It is worth noting that earlier negotiations between FBR and mobile companies regarding the blocking of SIM cards failed.

Read More: Federal govt ready to block non-filers SIMs despite PTA, Telcos denial

Earlier on May 4, the PTA had opposed blocking the SIM cards of over 500,000 tax non-filers.

In a letter to the FBR, the PTA said that blocking these SIMs would not be in line with their system.

The PTA noted that a large number of women use mobile SIMs that are registered against men’s names. He said that no restriction is being imposed on the issuance of new SIMs to non-filers.

The Telecommunication Authority also questioned the procedure for restoring the SIM cards of taxnet entrants.

The authority clarified that they are not legally bound to block SIMs and that blocking SIMs will also harm digitization and the telecom economy.