1,106,348 taxpayers filed income tax returns up to 30th Sept
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Taxpayers have shown their confidence and trust in the policies of the Government of Pakistan and in particular the rapid improvements and reforms of the Pakistan Tax Administration, the Central Board of Revenue.
Availing the Universal Self Assessment 1,106,348 taxpayers filed income tax returns up to September 30, 2005 as against 968,051 income tax returns filed last year up to September 30, 2004. There is an overall increase of 14% in the returns voluntarily filed by the taxpayers.
599,903 non-salaried taxpayers and 506,445 salaried taxpayers have filed income tax returns as against the 523,498 returns by non-salaried taxpayers and 444,553 returns by salaried taxpayers filed last year up to 30th September.
This year law was amended to facilitate salaried taxpayers and those salaried individuals who had salary only as their source of income, were allowed not to file returns, if their employer had filed employers’ statement. Therefore, number of returns, certificates and statements from salaried class is expected to increase very substantially, once the complete data from the employers’ statement is compiled. CBR expects to significantly surpass the number of returns received last year.
The amount of tax paid with returns upto 30th September this year is Rs. 4.2 billion as against Rs. 5.7 billion last year. This has been partly because of change in tax year in some cases leading to change in filing pattern and partly because of heavy capital investment in some corporate entities leading to huge depreciation claims and consequent tax losses.
In spite of the fact that there has been a very substantial increase in the number of returns filed, yet for various reasons, number of taxpayers were not able to file returns by the closing date. Some of the taxpayers have already sought extension for filing of returns whereas other could not do so. CBR appreciating the enthusiasm of taxpayers and for the sake of their facilitation have issued instructions to the Commissioners of Income Tax to liberally allow extension in time on request made by the taxpayers. CBR spokesman expressed hope that the taxpayers will avail of this relaxation.