FBR Makes CNIC Mandatory For Purchases Over Rs50,000

Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in a notification on Tuesday has made it mandatory for citizens to carry Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) for purchases over Rs. 50,000.

The said purchases shall be made from a registered sales tax vendor while in case of a female buyer, the CNIC of her husband and father will be acceptable. The development comes in as government tightens the noose around unverified and undocumented persons who purchase an excessive amount without paying taxes.

According to Dawn, the clarification came from FBR through a sales tax circular issued to explain the amendments made in the Sales Tax Act. The said amendments make it mandatory for buyers to show CNIC on purchases made from a sales tax registered person.

All such measures are primarily aimed at bringing small, medium and even some large retailers into the sales tax net. FBR further states that transactions under ‘good faith’ will not be penalized.

The statement adds that ‘No action will be undertaken without the approval of the chief commissioner of the jurisdiction’. Furthermore, where the incidence exceeds Rs5 million, the action will require further approval of member operation or director general (export-oriented sector). No action will be taken unless it has been undertaken against the person who has used fake CNIC, as published by Dawn.

Pakistani twitter has been exploding with severe criticism on the incumbent government`s prospective tax regime. It is pertained to mention that Prime Minister Imran Khan clearly defied all sorts of criticism when he stated during his address to the Pakistani diaspora in Washington that no exemptions shall be made.

UMMMM WHY DO I NEED MY FATHER OR HUSBAND TO PROVE THEIR CNIC IF I SPEND 50K? It's MY money.

What are these garbage policies? First the CAA plastic wrap, now this? What is going on?! https://t.co/2ITEaxwwy5

— Rimmel Mohydin (@Rimmel_Mohydin) July 23, 2019

And that if those tax authorities see someone making multiple large purchases they become targets of harassment by FBR. Making a lot of customers not wanting to share their CNIC with the shopkeeper.

— Pray for Nawaz Sharif (@patvaryzindabad) July 23, 2019

While some are against the FBR`s stringent measures others deem such policies necessary to end the ineffective taxation regime where the salaried class is burdened and excessively taxed upon.

Lol angry traders walking out of the meeting with FBR chairman because they’d be required to submit their CNIC numbers on purchase of PKR 50,000 or more. Pay tax or piss off to jail. Thieves.

— AS (@AScf90) July 12, 2019

I am willing to share my CNIC on any purchase I make above PKR 50,000 to help Stop Tax Evasion. What about you? #LetsAllPayTaxes #Country1st#FBR #PakistanZindabad

— Sadia Dada (@DadaSadia) July 13, 2019