ISLAMABAD; The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has compiled records of over 57,000 jewellers nationwide as part of its crackdown on tax evasion. According to officials, a majority of jewellers deliberately understate their income to avoid paying taxes.
Out of the 57,000 jewellers identified, only 21,000 are officially registered with the FBR, and a mere 10,524 have submitted tax returns. In the initial stage, lists of jewellers from Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Multan have been finalised, with notices being dispatched to them seeking clarification regarding their declared income.
FBR sources revealed that many jewellers’ reported earnings are inconsistent with the actual scale of their businesses, transactions, shops, and lifestyle. A large number of jewellery businesses remain completely outside the tax net. Those paying significantly less tax than expected are being formally asked to justify their filings.
Officials stressed that the FBR is committed to expanding the tax base, ensuring that every business sector comes under the tax system. They added that no businessman or industrialist will be targeted without valid reasons.
They further underlined: “The system will work smoothly only if every citizen contributes their fair share of taxes.”
