Shopkeepers asked to opt for fixed tax scheme

Dawn reported that the Federal Board of Revenue wants small shopkeepers and retailers to join a fixed tax scheme introduced recently. Under the arrangement, eligible traders pay one per cent of turnover, with a minimum liability of Rs25,000, and file a single-page return. Fiza Batool, chief commissioner (Inland Revenue) at the FBR in Lahore, made the appeal while addressing the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.

The scheme is voluntary, and traders may keep filing under the normal tax regime if they prefer. Eligible businesses are exempt from routine audits, Point of Sale integration and digital invoicing, while registered shopkeepers receive a green plate. Under the safeguards, field teams would generally avoid entering a registered premises unless a major anomaly is found.

Batool said the FBR has set up a helpline and WhatsApp facility for complaints and plans an open-court mechanism for taxpayers to air grievances. She stressed that businesspeople should not face unnecessary harassment, and pledged full cooperation with the chamber. The official also argued that widening the tax base is essential for a level playing field, noting that the share of people paying tax was very small.