ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has requested the Ministry of Power to refuse utility connections to income tax non-filers.

FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi in a letter to power minister has sought its help for the implementation of Section 181AA of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, which stipulates that any application for commercial or industrial connection of electricity or gas shall not be processed and provided unless the person is an income tax return filer.

Zaidi further added that FBR has extended the date of filing the return for TY18 to August 2.

The chairman has requested power ministry to issue instructions to power distribution companies apprising them that it is mandatory to be on ‘Active Taxpayers List’ for every commercial and industrial electricity or gas consumer.

The number of income tax filers has already crossed the two million-mark.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2019