Islamabad, Aug 26: Traders will make their new requests known to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Among these demands is the removal of the fixed monthly tax that applies to stores and retail outlets starting in August 2024.
In an attempt to oppose the “trader-friendly scheme,” the traders will meet with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on August 27 before going to any extreme lengths, such as staging a shutter-down strike on August 28.
Before taking any drastic action, such as a shutter-down strike on August 28, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has requested that the traders’ community hold a thorough discussion on August 27. This is in protest of the “trader-friendly scheme.”
The FBR Member Inland Revenue Operations has contacted the traders’ representatives and sent an invitation for a meeting on August 27 to discuss the resolution of their concerns, including tax payments, according to Chief Coordinator of the Tajir Dost Scheme Naeem Mir, who spoke with the media.
It is anticipated that the meeting will take place at FBR Headquarters. He went on to say that the FBR will consider any legitimate requests from traders, including any changes to the applicable Tajir Dost Scheme announcement.
The so-called “trader-friendly scheme” and new tax measures have prompted the Central Organization of Traders and All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran to declare a statewide shutter-down strike for August 28.
Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry sought the scheme’s immediate removal, rejecting it as unrealistic. They also demanded the elimination of withholding taxes on necessities like wheat and legumes.
Against a target of 3.2 million, the FBR has registered over 58,000 small traders and new shopkeepers under the Tajir Dost Scheme thus far.
