PM hints at crackdown against tax evaders after June 30

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday hinted at a crackdown against tax evaders after the amnesty deadline on June 30. A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday discussed the budget for the next fiscal year. The prime minster was given a detailed briefing regarding the revenue and expenditures. During the meeting, the consultations were made regarding to the next budget. The meeting was attended amongst others by Adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Minister for Planning Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister of State for Revenue Hamad Azhar, Special Assistant Sania Nishtar and Federal Board Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi. According to the sources, the meeting discussed the upcoming budget which will be presented on June 11. The FBR chairman also briefed the premier on the tax amnesty scheme. Azhar briefed the meeting on the extension in the date of tax returns and tax revenue. The prime minister questioned the meeting how to bring the big tax evaders into the tax net. He expressed displeasure over failure in widening the tax net and inquired about steps being taken to bring big fishes under the tax net. He was told that all the state institutions are with the government to bring evaders into taxation net. “Why only the salaried class pays tax,” the PM asked. The premier said that the government has announced the assets declaration scheme and also extended the date of filing the tax returns. “The government will not offer any concession to the people who will fail to get benefit from extension in filing of tax returns date,” the premier clarified.