Govt launches mobile app for small traders’ tax scheme

On Wednesday, the government unveiled a mobile application to facilitate the Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for small traders and shopkeepers. This initiative aims to enable businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs200 million to file their tax returns via the app. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Bilal Azhar Kayani, the Minister of State for Finance, addressed a press conference to announce the launch, which marked the "practical start" of a project that had been in development for several months.

The app, which was developed in consultation with trader representatives, is available in Urdu and will soon be accessible in additional languages like Pashto, Balochi, and Sindhi. Key features include a simple form, automatic tax calculation, and a digital plate that allows traders to pay their taxes without the need to install point-of-sale machines or act as withholding agents.

Once registered, traders will receive a PSID, enabling them to pay taxes through the app and receive updates on their tax-filer status and associated benefits. The government assured that traders would not face harassment from FBR officials while displaying the plate, and physical copies would be available within two weeks. Existing tax filers with sales under Rs200 million in the past three years can also benefit, paying a minimum of Rs25,000 in tax.

The Minister emphasized that this scheme is designed to be a "win-win" for both the government and traders, thereby expanding the tax net and fostering a more tax-conscious business environment.