ISP Working Paper Number 06-24

Pakistan: A Preliminary Assessment of the Federal Tax System

Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, November 2006

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Abstract:

Pakistan 's tax system has undergone significant reforms over the last two decades, leading to the modernization of direct and indirect taxes. More recent times have seen the rationalization of income tax rates, the introduction of self-assessment for filing income taxes, some expansion of consumption taxes, and the rationalization of the customs tariff structure with a reduction of tariff bands and maximum rates. Currently, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) is engaged in a comprehensive plan to re-structure and modernize the entire tax administration and customs operations. In addition, the CBR has taken a number of steps in the recent past to increase the number of taxpayers and broaden tax bases. From a macroeconomic perspective, fiscal performance has improved as measured by the reduction in the federal budget deficit and the overall level of debt in terms of GDP.