The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has instructed its field offices to strengthen intelligence operations to recover evaded taxes and prevent tax dodging in order to boost revenue collection.
To this end, Intelligence and Investigation Cells (IICs) in all tax zones across the country will be made more active.
The information was disclosed in a press release issued by NBR’s Public Relations Officer, Al Amin Sheikh, on Sunday morning.
According to the NBR, a directive issued from the office of the NBR Member (Tax Audit, Intelligence and Investigation) stated that each tax zone will form an Intelligence and Investigation Team. The directive also includes detailed guidelines on the team’s operating procedures, investigation process, preparation of recommendations, and approval process for tax recovery activities.
As per the directive, the respective teams will initiate investigations based on various intelligence reports, tax evasion allegations, tampering or alterations in income tax files, abnormal tax-free income declarations, or unusually high net asset figures shown in wealth statements.
If the investigation uncovers concrete evidence of tax evasion, the team will submit a report to the intelligence and investigation committee for approval to proceed with revenue recovery. Once the evidence is confirmed, the committee will begin the recovery process in accordance with the law.
In addition, each tax commissionerate has been directed to submit a monthly report to the NBR—by the 10th of the following month—detailing the progress of intelligence activities, additional tax claims, and amounts recovered.
The press release added that the NBR expects the strengthening of the intelligence and investigation cells will help recover evaded taxes, curb tax evasion tendencies, and promote a sound tax culture in the country.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
