Pakistan’s income tax filers surpass 6.8 million

The number of income tax returns filed in Pakistan has exceeded 6.815 million, marking a significant increase compared with the same period last year.

According to official sources, more than 4.5 million people outside the salaried class have filed their income tax returns, while over 2.2 million salaried individuals have also submitted their returns.

The latest figures show an increase in tax return filings compared with the corresponding period last year, when more than 5.2 million people had filed their income tax returns.

The rise in filings reflects a growing number of individuals submitting their tax returns. However, the figures alone do not establish how much additional revenue the government has collected or whether the overall tax base has expanded proportionately.

Under the tax scheme for small retailers, 1,473 traders have filed their income tax returns, according to the sources. Of these, 137 are newly registered traders, while 1,336 are existing traders who have submitted returns under the scheme.

The sources further reported that 2,875 shopkeepers had registered under the small-retailer tax scheme.

The scheme is intended to bring small traders into the formal tax system and encourage them to fulfil their tax obligations. The latest figures indicate that some retailers have begun filing returns under the programme, although the number of registrations remains higher than the number of returns submitted.

The increase in tax filings comes as the government continues efforts to broaden the tax base and improve compliance among different income groups and business sectors.

The figures also highlight the contribution of salaried individuals, alongside other taxpayers, to the income tax system. The government faces the continuing challenge of encouraging more businesses and individuals to register, file returns and meet their tax obligations.