FBR starts crackdown against non-filer physicians and surgeons

KARACHI- Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued notices to 30 hospitals for provision of information about physicians and surgeons practicing in these health facilities for FBR registration.

The FBR notice said, “During the task of identifying new taxpayers it transpired that a large number of physicians and surgeons that are registered with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) and have thriving practices, are not paying taxes on their income.”

The FBR notice u/s 176 has been issued to 30 hospitals demanding information about the doctors practicing there, their income and other related matters. The notified hospitals include Mamji Hospital, Dow University Hospital, Indus Hospital, National Medical Centre, Ankelsaria Hospital,  Ibne Seena Hospital,  Life Care Consultant Clinic,  Karachi Adventist Hosptial, Nehal Hospital, A.O Clinic, Dar Ul Sehat Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital,Usmania University Hospital,   Jinnah Hospital, OMI Hospital, Fatmiyah Hospital, Zulekha Hospital, Mid City Hospital, Ashfaq Memorial Hospital, Habib Medical  Centre, Hashmanis Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Health Care Centre, Park Lane Hospital, Zubaida Medical Centre, Liaquat  National Hospital, Hamdard University Hospital, Ziauddin Medical Centre and Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation.

The information provided would be cross-matched with the withholding statements filed by the hospitals; and for the consultants not filing their returns, statutory notices would be issued for filing of income tax returns.

Executive Director, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr Seemin Jamali said no such notice had been received from the FBR as yet. The notice is apparently only available on social media, she added