Government launches ‘Trader Dost Scheme’ for retailers in major cities

The government has launched the Trader Dost Scheme, aiming to bring five types of traders under the ambit of taxation.

These include: wholesalers, dealers, and retailers as the first category; furniture and renovation showrooms as the second; jewelers and cosmetic stores as the third; grocery, medical, and hardware stores as the fourth; and meat, vegetable, and fruit stores as the fifth.

All shopkeepers from these categories will now be recognized as taxpayers.

Initially, the Trader Dost Scheme will be rolled out in six cities: Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Quetta, and Islamabad, with tax collection set to commence on the 1st of July.

The scheme mandates that all non-filers and unregistered traders must register, which can be done via a mobile app, the FBR’s web portal, or at any FBR Tax Facilitation Centre, with a deadline for registration set for April 30th, 2024.