Over 0.5m non-filers’ SIMs to be blocked

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has released a comprehensive list of 506,671 individuals who failed to file their tax returns for 2023. As a penalty, their mobile phone SIMs will be promptly blocked. The decision was issued in an Income Tax General Order (ITGO) no 01 of 2024, which said that the mobile SIMs for these individuals will stay blocked until restored by the FBR or the Commissioner Inland Revenue having authority over the person. According to the FBR, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and all telecom providers must immediately comply with this ITGO. The compliance report will be submitted to the FBR by May 15. According to an official source, the FBR has identified 2.4 million potential taxpayers who did not exist on the tax rolls. Notices were subsequently issued to these individuals.