FBR must overcome the trust deficit

Despite such a large national population, less than three million citizens file income tax returns. Successive governments have tried their best to increase the number of tax filers by offering lesser withholding tax (WHT) on different purchases, but, regardless of what the government of the time does, people have shown zero interest in this critical regard.
One of the major reasons is the fear among the masses that if they come in the tax net once, the tax authorities or their staff will take undue advantage and may also blackmail them or indulge in some other illegal acts. To counter the situation, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) should first give assurance that income tax filers will not be harassed or even asked for unnecessary documents. The board should make it clear that there will be no misuse of the filers’ information even when a change of government takes place. Policy consistency has never been our strong point and that alone is enough to make people wary of one initiative or the other. The FBR surely needs to cross the barrier.
The government must offer privileges to all those citizens who are filing their tax returns regularly. There should be privilege queues for filers at airports, immigration counters, railway stations, police stations, driving licence offices, government offices and all provincial and federal departments. All taxpaying citizens who are also filers should be given priority at public and private spaces. We can add to the list of incentives and privileges by following the example set by the developed countries where taxpayers are respected and offered incentives. This will not only increase the number of taxpayers, it will also show them that paying taxes and filing returns is beneficial for all concerned.
HUSSAIN SHABBIR
KARACHI