Chief Commissioner of RTO inaugurates Income Tax Facilitation Desk at ICCI

Easy Trader Scheme is a positive step towards a trust-based tax system: Sardar Tahir Mahmood

Islamabad (Special Correspondent) Chief Commissioner of the Regional Tax Office (RTO) Islamabad, Yasmeen Fatima, urged retailers and small shopkeepers to register under the government’s Easy Trader Scheme and file their returns by September 30, 2026. She stated that the primary objective of this scheme is to simplify the tax system, encourage voluntary tax payments, and integrate more businesses into the formal economy. While addressing an interactive session held at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Monday, she emphasized that this scheme should be viewed as a friendly and positive initiative for the business community, transforming the tradition of fear and distance between taxpayers and tax authorities into cooperation, facilitation, and mutual trust.
Explaining the scheme, Yasmeen Fatima mentioned that traders with an annual turnover of up to 200 million rupees can opt for the easy tax system while still having the option to file regular tax returns. Under this simplified system, a minimum annual tax of 25,000 rupees has been set for eligible traders, who will also be exempt from audits if they meet the specified conditions. She noted that this scheme provides small businesses with greater confidence and ease regarding their tax obligations and opens an easy pathway for those traders who are still outside the tax net to join the formal economy.
She added that the registration process has also been simplified, with relevant forms available in Urdu to ensure small traders can easily understand and complete them. Traders can also register through the Tax Asaan App, while tax authorities will provide direct assistance to traders seeking guidance. She informed that special teams have been formed to facilitate businesses by visiting shops and trader organizations’ offices to assist in the registration process. She stated that numerous benefits, including audit exemption and amnesty facilities under the scheme, should encourage the trading community to take advantage of this opportunity positively.
The Chief Commissioner announced that QR code-bearing green plates will be displayed outside registered shops, serving as a clear symbol of tax compliance and promoting transparency. She expressed hope that this initiative would restore small businesses’ confidence while reducing unnecessary contact between traders and tax authorities. She emphasized that the government is extending a friendly hand to the business community, aiming not to instill fear but to facilitate traders in becoming part of the documented and formal sector of the national economy.
Earlier, Chief Commissioner Yasmeen Fatima inaugurated the Income Tax Facilitation Desk at ICCI alongside ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mahmood, senior RTO officials, ICCI officials, and representatives from the business community. She stated that this desk would serve as a one-window facility for small traders, providing them with direct guidance and support regarding registration, return filing, and other tax-related matters.
ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mahmood praised the establishment of the facilitation desk by RTO Islamabad, describing it as a practical step towards resolving small traders’ issues and simplifying tax registration and return filing. He noted that the business community is a responsible partner in national economic development and the backbone of the economy, playing a crucial role in promoting employment, investment, trade, and economic activities. He mentioned that the facilitation desk would help bridge the gap between tax authorities and small businesses, providing timely guidance and assisting traders in fulfilling their tax obligations without unnecessary hurdles.
Sardar Tahir Mahmood affirmed that ICCI will continue to act as a bridge between the government and the private sector, raising awareness about the Easy Trader Scheme within the business community and providing all possible support to traders in meeting tax requirements. ICCI Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub and Vice President Irfan Chaudhry also expressed their commitment to actively support the chamber in raising awareness about the scheme and facilitating the trading community. The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of ICCI Standing Committee on FBR, Mian Muhammad Ramzan. Present with the Chief Commissioner were Commissioner of Inland Revenue Ms. Maria Sharif, Commissioner of Inland Revenue Ms. Rabia Durrani, Additional Commissioner of Inland Revenue Muhammad Shakeel Anwar, Secretary of FBR Ahmed Shakeel Babar, and Assistant Commissioner of Inland Revenue Ms. Fatima Tariq. A large number of participants included former ICCI President Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi, Executive Members Abdul Rahman Siddiqui, Imran Munhas, Zulqarnain Abbasi, and Raja Naveed Satti, former Senior Vice President Khalid Chaudhry, and representatives from various markets and trader organizations.