PRA collects 'record' Rs10.3bn in August, Rs20.8bn in 2MFY22

Total collection for the first two months of the current financial year remained Rs20.8 billion, which is 19% more than Rs17.5 billion collected during the same period last year.

 According to a news release, Rs10.3 billion in August 2021 and two-month collection of Rs20.8 billion are the highest ever since the inception of PRA in 2012 and augurs well for the chances of the authority of achieving its assigned revenue target of Rs155.9 billion for 2021-22.

The PRA succeeded in surpassing its revenue targets for 2019-20 and 2020-21 and is on track for completing a hat-trick of achieving its targets, an unprecedented feat for any revenue authority of the country.

The PRA spokesperson said the authority intends to continue the policy of the government of collaboration with stakeholders, avoidance of coercive measures and creating an atmosphere of facilitation, and treating taxpayers as partners of the government. 

"The authority has always relied on automation and minimum human interface and is currently striving towards complete automation of workflow and creation of an integrate database."

These measures, the spokesperson added, would enable the authority to broaden its tax base, create ease of paying taxes and detect tax evasion in a much more efficient manner.

According to a PRA official, the authority has collected Rs250 million under the Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess (PIDC) and the remaining under the Sales Tax on Services in the first two months of the current fiscal.