ISLAMABAD (Afzal Shah Yousafzai):- The federal government has formally launched the Retailer Scheme App to facilitate the inclusion of small shopkeepers and retailers in the country’s tax net.
Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani briefed trader representatives and the media on the new scheme and its mobile application at a press conference.
Bilal Azhar Kayani said the retailer scheme had been developed in consultation with traders, with the aim of expanding the tax base while making it easier for small shopkeepers to register and pay taxes.
He said the app is available for download from the Google Play Store and is currently available in Urdu. Other languages are expected to be added in September.
Under the scheme, successfully registered retailers will not be required to install a Point of Sale (POS) machine. Each participating retailer will be required to pay a minimum annual tax of Rs25,000, after which a designated tax plate can be displayed at the shop.
FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial said the new application would allow shopkeepers to file their taxes in just eight to 10 clicks, eliminating the need to visit FBR offices.
He added that FBR officials would not visit shops displaying the designated tax filing plate. According to the chairman, commercial data has also been obtained from various power distribution companies, although it is too early to estimate the exact revenue expected from the scheme.
Langrial said the initiative could potentially bring billions of rupees into the tax net.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said simplifying the tax filing process was essential to bringing small retailers into the formal tax system. He added that the retailer scheme would provide shopkeepers with an option alongside the regular tax system.
Trader representatives welcomed the initiative and urged the government to keep the scheme in place on a permanent basis, further simplify the tax system and protect businesses from unnecessary difficulties.
