FBR Seeks To Expand Pakistan's Tax Base

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore.com, London

06 December 2007

Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has this week announced it will approve the launch of a set of studies aimed at expanding the country's tax base and increasing revenue.

According to a Daily Times report, a group of expert analysts will now begin reviewing the country's growth patterns in relation to revenue potential, and why examining certain gaps occur between due and paid taxes.

The key objective of the new studies, according to reports, is to increase the number of annual income tax returns filed by 20%.

In late November, the FBR released a statement revealing that it had surpassed the revised revenue target of Rs. 332.5 billion assigned for July - November 2007-08.

The Board announced that:

"The provisional tax collection indicates a cumulative growth of 12.6%. The net collection during the period has been Rs. 333.6 billion against Rs. 296.3 billion in the same period last year."

"The revenue on account of direct taxes has maintained its steady growth, as Rs. 110 billion have been collected during July-November 2007 against Rs. 96.5 billion last year, showing a growth of 14%."

"The sales tax collection has reached Rs. 142.1 billion against Rs. 125.7 billion, indicating a growth of 13%. Whereas the growth in sales tax (import stage) has been 12.4%, the domestic sales tax collection has increased by 13.9%, going up from Rs. 53.2 billion to Rs. 60.6 billion."

"The tax receipts on account of federal excise duties have recorded a significant increase of 24.1% touching Rs. 31 billion against Rs. 25 billion in the past. Finally, the collection of Rs. 50.6 billion from customs duties has increased by 2.9% as compared to last year figure."

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