ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received extensive data from Provincial Revenue Authorities (PRAs) and various departments to broaden the tax base by identifying high-net-worth individuals and unearthing hidden assets.
According to sources, land and revenue authorities, development authorities, vehicle registration departments, and food and mineral authorities have shared crucial information with the FBR. The data includes vehicle ownership records of over 21 million individuals, property details of more than 23 million citizens, and over 20,000 CNIC-linked records from provincial revenue authorities. Additionally, development authorities have provided details of more than 100,000 individuals.
The FBR is now analyzing this data to identify individuals who lead lavish lifestyles but remain outside the tax net. However, officials acknowledge that raw data alone may not be sufficient to effectively expand the tax base, particularly regarding property ownership and luxury vehicle registrations.
To strengthen this initiative, the FBR has also collaborated with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Under this partnership, the FBR has obtained records of over 50 million high-net-worth individuals with information on bank accounts, property ownership, luxury vehicle registrations, and foreign travel. This collaboration aims to determine actual incomes, register new taxpayers, and profile non-filers.
The exchange of data is conducted under Section 175B of the Income Tax Ordinance, which mandates NADRA to share its records with the FBR to enhance tax compliance and improve revenue collection.
This large-scale data-sharing initiative is a significant step towards tax transparency and expanding Pakistan’s tax base, ensuring that more individuals contribute fairly to the economy.
