Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has stepped up its taxpayers 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 30th September for filing of Income Tax returns approaches.
A team of FBR's Facilitation and Taxpayers Education (FATE) Wing led by Member FATE, FBR, Ms Nausheen Javaid Amjad and Chief FATE Ms. Tehmina Aamer Thursday visited Peshawar and held separate meetings with Mr. Shamsul Qayum, Managing Director of The Bank of Khyber, Zahidullah Shinwari, President of the KP Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Fuad Ishaq, former president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ghazafar Bilour, former president of KP Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Sharafat Ali Mubarak, president of Anjuman e Tanzim e Tajiran KP, Mr. Yasir, Chief Financial Officer of Peshawar Electric Supply Company and sought their active role and assistance in promoting and underlining the benefits of filing of Income Tax returns by the employees in their organisations.
Ms Nausheen Javaid Amjad used the meetings to brief her hosts on FBR's efforts aimed at facilitation of taxpayers, broadening of 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.
Member FATE FBR 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 a host of dividends and advantages accrued from the filing of returns, 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 personalized 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.
