Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reached out to businesses and trade organizations, inviting proposals for new measures aimed at increasing the tax burden on wealthy individuals. This step is part of the board’s efforts to make the tax system more progressive, fair, and efficient, and to broaden the tax base for the upcoming fiscal year. The FBR said that early planning and consultation with stakeholders would help in reducing procedural challenges later and improve the overall budget preparation process.
Officials explained that preparations for the Finance Bill 2026 have already begun. They emphasized the importance of collecting input from businesses and experts to refine tax policies, ensure fairness, and make them practical and implementable. The FBR is seeking ideas that can strengthen revenue collection, reduce tax distortions, and ensure that taxation is equitable across all income groups, while still supporting ease of doing business.
Several key areas have been highlighted where suggestions would be most useful. These include broadening the tax base so that more individuals and businesses participate in revenue generation, bringing the full value chain of all businesses under GST, and introducing progressive measures that increase the incidence of tax on the wealthier classes. Officials also want proposals to phase out tax concessions and exemptions across different tax laws, simplify procedures to remove redundancy, reduce loopholes, and prevent tax arbitrage, all while improving efficiency and neutrality in the system. The FBR clarified that these areas are illustrative, and they welcome any additional ideas that can strengthen the tax framework.
FBR stressed that proposals should be actionable, meaningful, and clear. Suggestions can involve amendments, additions, or deletions to current tax laws, as long as they are realistic and implementable. The board hopes that engaging stakeholders early will help in crafting a comprehensive and balanced Finance Bill, while making sure the system does not overburden ordinary taxpayers.
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