The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced the ‘Asaan Tajir’ mobile app to bring 4.2 million small shopkeepers into the tax net under a simplified 1% fixed tax scheme.
State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani announced the launch of the Asaan Tajir mobile app in Urdu on the Google Play Store.
Originally announced on June 5, the scheme was developed following three months of consultations with trader leaders Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhary. The initiative provides a simple and optional mechanism for small retailers to file tax returns and to create a system that expands the tax base.
Scheme Eligibility and Tax Rates
The scheme applies to both existing filers and non-filer retailers and shopkeepers with annual sales up to Rs 200 million.
It charges a fixed tax rate of 1% on declared annual sales, with a minimum yearly tax payment of Rs 25,000. Traders can adjust existing withholding taxes deducted through utility bills against their final tax liability
App Operations and Tax Filer Status
- The app generates a Payment Slip Identification Number (PSID) during registration, allowing shopkeepers to pay taxes digitally
- Upon payment users receive a notification confirming their updated tax filer status and available scheme benefits.
- For registration support, traders can visit designated focal offices at Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) in each district.
Exemptions and Audit Protections
Participating shopkeepers do not need to install point-of-sale (POS) machines or act as withholding agents.
Registered traders will receive a green, bar-coded physical registration plate containing taxpayer details. FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial confirmed that displaying this plate prevents FBR officers from entering shops for routine tax audits, though he noted concerns over potential over-invoicing under the scheme.
The plate is free for retailers who register by the filing deadline, while late registrants must pay up to Rs 1,500.
App Availability and Enforcement
Minister Kayani added that an iOS version will release soon, alongside regional language options in Pashto, Balochi, and Sindhi by early September.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned that non-participating traders will face legal action, calling sales tax evasion a criminal act.
