Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced a major initiative to audit millions of income tax returns in a bid to identify undeclared income and discrepancies, officials said. Taxpayers submitting false or incomplete returns may face substantial fines and legal consequences.
In the first phase, the FBR will examine between seven to ten million returns, covering salaried and corporate taxpayers. High-profile individuals, including CEOs, big capitalists, and government officers, will also come under scrutiny. Officials stated that taxpayers declaring 25 percent less than last year’s taxable income will be closely reviewed.
To enhance efficiency and accuracy, the FBR will employ modern data analysis tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). The system is designed to detect irregularities, streamline audits, and ensure fairness, focusing on large-scale discrepancies while minimizing manual errors.
The FBR emphasized that taxpayers found submitting inaccurate returns will face significant penalties and potential legal action, and undeclared or false income will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The audit plan for 2025 has already been approved, with projections indicating that over seven million tax returns may be reviewed by November 30. The FBR chairman stated that the goal is to audit up to 80 percent of income tax returns submitted this year, reflecting the board’s broader strategy to modernize tax compliance and boost revenue collection.
This initiative marks one of the largest tax compliance drives in Pakistan’s history and is expected to improve transparency, strengthen enforcement, and encourage accurate reporting among taxpayers.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
