No International Travel for Non-Filers as FBR Prepares to Tighten Rules – Startup Pakistan

FBR has announced that non-filers will face restrictions on international travel, with the only exception being for religious purposes. This decision comes as part of a broader effort to improve the country’s financial management and increase tax compliance.

To help control cash flow in the economy, the FBR is eliminating the non-filer category. From now on, all financial transactions must go through banking channels, which will make it easier to track where money is coming from and where it is going. As a result, activities like buying property, purchasing cars, investing in mutual funds, and opening current accounts will only be allowed for individuals who are registered as tax filers.

Rashid Mahmood Langrial, the chairman of the FBR, highlighted the importance of these reforms. He pointed out that last year, the FBR collected around Rs. 25 billion from non-filers, indicating that there is still a significant amount of revenue that could be gathered from those who are not paying taxes. By encouraging more people to file their taxes, the FBR aims to boost the country’s overall revenue.

However, the FBR also assured that basic banking accounts for low-income individuals will remain exempt from these new rules, ensuring that those who are struggling financially can still access banking services without being penalized for not filing taxes. This move is part of the FBR’s commitment to enhance financial inclusion while also working towards a more organized tax system in Pakistan.