Asan Tax Scheme brings nearly 10,000 shopkeepers into the tax net

Nearly 10,000 shopkeepers have registered under the Asan Tax Scheme within a month of its launch, according to a government review meeting held on Friday and chaired by the Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kayani.

Officials briefed the meeting that 9,806 shopkeepers had registered under the scheme and were at various stages of filing their returns. Of those, 1,929 are entering the tax system for the first time, while 428 have already filed. Shopkeepers from both small and major cities were among those who had filed, the meeting was told.

Kayani directed the Federal Board of Revenue to resolve without delay the technical objections raised by shopkeepers and tax lawyers about how the scheme is being implemented, and instructed authorities to issue FBR plates to shopkeepers who have filed their returns at the earliest. "The Asan Tax Scheme is a unique facility designed specifically for shopkeepers and not available to any other business segment," he said, urging more shopkeepers to join and adding that there was no reason for them to remain non-filers following its launch.

The meeting decided that traders and FBR officials would remain in daily contact to facilitate implementation and to deepen engagement with tax bars and lawyers. Officials also briefed participants that an Urdu-language information booklet had been issued explaining the scheme, the previous procedure for filing returns and the penalties applicable after the deadline. Under the scheme, penalties apply to those who fail to pay taxes after the deadline: Rs10,000 in the first month, Rs25,000 in the second and Rs50,000 in the third.

Trader representatives assured the meeting of their cooperation and described the scheme as a positive initiative, while noting that creating awareness among shopkeepers would take time. Tax commissioners briefed participants on their engagement with tax bars in their respective areas. Trader leaders Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry, Member Strategic Transformation Dr Hamid Atiq, Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal and senior FBR officials attended, while chief commissioners and commissioners from across the country joined via video link.