In a recent report by the FBR, findings reveal that a concerning trend persists among candidates gearing up for the upcoming February elections in Pakistan.
Shockingly, one in every three candidates seems to have a record of flouting tax laws, being unregistered as taxpayers, or failing to file income tax for at least one year within the past three years.
This revelation sheds light on a distressing non-tax culture prevalent among aspiring national representatives, underscoring a significant issue within the country.
Official data shared by the Election Commission, encompassing approximately 28,000 candidates, discloses that 9,200 of them lack registration with the FBR or have a history of non-filing for at least one of the past three years. More than 9,200 candidates have managed to enter the electoral race despite contravening a parliamentary Act by not complying with tax regulations.
Further scrutiny reveals that over 4,200 candidates failed to file income tax for the past three years, while more than 5,000 were not registered for income tax purposes.
Additionally, during the vetting process, the FBR pinpointed over 1,100 defaulters who settled their dues before their candidacy was approved. This action resulted in the recovery of approximately six billion rupees from these candidates, suggesting that they concealed a significant portion of their wealth. Remarkably, the retrieved dues surpass the total income tax paid by members of the National Assembly and Senate in 2019.
According to the FBR’s tax directory for 2019, members of the National Assembly and the Senate collectively declared an income of 11 billion rupees but paid a mere 576 million rupees in taxes. This amount represents a paltry 5.2 percent of their income, significantly lower than the tax burden on salaried individuals, which stands at a higher rate of 35 percent.
Equally concerning is the revelation that returning officers rejected the nomination papers of candidates who were tax filers but accepted those of non-filers and unregistered candidates, adding another layer to this disconcerting scenario.