Shopkeepers who fail to register with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) or file their tax returns could face penalties of up to Rs. 50,000 under the government’s new tax scheme.
The penalty system is part of the Fixed Tax Aasaan Scheme introduced for small traders and shopkeepers. The scheme covers businesses with annual sales of up to Rs. 200 million and gives traders the option to pay a fixed tax or continue with the regular tax system.
Under the agreed rules, shopkeepers who do not follow either option can face a Rs. 10,000 fine during the first month of non-compliance. The penalty rises to Rs. 25,000 in the second month and Rs. 50,000 in the third month.
The government is now increasing efforts to inform traders about the scheme. Officials have been directed to work with trader groups and tax lawyers to help shopkeepers complete registration and file returns.
Recent figures show that around 9,806 shopkeepers had joined the scheme, while only 428 had filed their returns. The government has set a September 30 deadline for filing under the scheme.
