FBR introduces Retailer App to bring small traders into tax net

Mettis Global reported on August 19, 2026 that the FBR has introduced a Retailer Scheme App designed to bring small shopkeepers into the formal tax system through a simple process. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb spoke at a press conference after the launch, saying the scheme was shaped by consultations with traders and parliamentary committees. He added that shopkeepers who opt in would be shielded from harassment once registered.

Eligible traders can either stay under the regular tax regime or switch to the simplified option, and the app lets retailers register and file returns through a streamlined procedure. Shopkeepers with yearly sales up to Rs200 million qualify to become tax filers via the platform. Traders who sign up by the filing deadline receive a security-featured registration plate, and later registrants also get one at an estimated cost capped at Rs1,500.

Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, said talks with traders went on for over three months to address shortcomings of previous schemes. FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial added that registered retailers will receive a bar-coded plate showing taxpayer details, and that officials cannot enter their premises for investigations. Trader representatives Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhary called the initiative business-friendly, noting traders had sought such a mechanism for 27 years.