Understanding the Active Taxpayers List 2024 and New Developments
If you want to know how to change late filer status to active status in Pakistan then this article will help you a lot. This is the list of active taxpayers as maintained by the Federal Board of Revenue. If a person pays taxes to Pakistan, then this list keeps them up to date for all who are considered taxpayers. In fact, being regarded as an “active taxpayer” allows for tax-related benefits, and it forms a precondition for many related financial transactions. The FBR has recently come up with some updates as regards the ATL, mainly concerning those who miss the first deadline for filing. Such updates, issued in S.R.O. 1448(I)/2024 and subsequently confirmed in S.R.O. 1638(I)/2024, have been aimed at making it a smoother process and making it accessible to all. Let’s break it down of what’s new and how this impacts taxpayers.
How to Get Included in the ATL
- File Your Return on Time – Filing by Due Date: You will be considered an ATL if you file your income tax return for the 2024 tax year by the due date. The due date this year is October 31, 2024. Please don’t forget that there’s no extension this year; the earlier you file by this date, the better it will be for remaining active without too much ado.
- Missed the Deadline? You Can Still Be Included – Late Filing Surcharge: If you have not filed your return on the due date, there’s no need to panic – you can still be on the ATL. You would only need to file a return after the due date along with a surcharge paid under Section 182A(1)(a) of the Income Tax Ordinance. Once this surcharge is paid, you’d be included in the ATL.
- Real-Time ATL Updates Faster ATL Updates: The ATL used to be updated once in a week. The list is now updated daily and any one filing late and paying the surcharge sees his status reflected speedily. It is no longer necessary to update the older system as the ATL is now being updated every day at midnight.
- Immediate Inclusion Post Due Date: The rule will also include new taxpayers on the list the following day after the deadline or any extension thereof. In contrast, before this new rule, the list would only be updated at the end of February.
New ATL Rules for Late Filers
The latest changes indicate that even if you filed late, you would immediately be classified as an active taxpayer once you pay the surcharge. This indicates that the shift to the real-time system is a big change because it ensures that you do not have to wait until the next scheduled ATL update to see the confirmation of your active status.
Also read: Common Income Tax Return Mistakes to Avoid in Pakistan
New Companies and Associations
- Companies newly registered
- Inclusion without Filing: A return might not be filed by those companies or associations of persons that come into existence after June 30 of a tax year. But such organizations will be included in ATL, thus easing the formation of tax benefits as soon as possible.
- Special Conditions for AJK and GB Residents
- Eligibility Criteria: Anyone submitting their returns before the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Central Board of Revenue or the Gilgit-Baltistan Council Board of Revenue and possessing addresses both in AJK or GB is liable to be enlisted on the ATL.
Maintenance of the ATL
- Daily Up-date: The new system uploads the ATL daily, therefore one could check the tax-payer status in real-time.
- Next-Day Additions Post-Due-Date: Once the due date has elapsed, the ATL will upload new filers the next day; thus the delayed filers needn’t wait for too long for their names to appear on the list.
Learn more: How to File Tax Return for Salary Person in 2024
These changes make ATL management easier to handle through providing daily updates, clear guidelines, and easy inclusion for late filers and new entities. It makes it easier to understand and stay updated on the tax status, thus enabling more people to easily take advantage of the benefits brought about by active taxpayer status.
