FBR fails to tax earnings of service providers

Interim Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar has voiced concern with the slow pace in implementing the decision to connect professional services online with the tax machinery in eight major cities across the country. More than three years have gone and the FBR has still not completely implemented the decision in urban cities to raise income tax from professional service providers who earn money mostly in cash and do not pay any tax on it, official sources told Dawn on Wednesday. In August 2020, the then-tax officials announced in SRO779 that 12 categories of sales and services providers should interface with FBR to track their sales and services. Under this decision, electronic devices and software will be installed on the premises of these services.