Islamabad: At least nine Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) are missing from the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Active Taxpayers List, sparking concerns over compliance with tax obligations. Among these nine, two members are reportedly not even registered with the FBR, suggesting they may have never filed their income tax returns.
The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) conducted a review of MNAs’ tax filing status using their National Identity Card numbers from their nomination papers for the 2024 General Elections. This examination revealed discrepancies in the tax status of some parliamentarians who are responsible for debating and imposing taxes on citizens.
The FBR classifies taxpayers as “Active” or “In-Active,” based on timely filing of income tax returns. Those filing after deadlines must pay a surcharge to regain “Active” status. An “In-Active” status indicates non-filing for the previous tax year, while unregistered individuals show “No record exists.”
Failure to file tax returns, a legal requirement under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, can lead to financial penalties or legal action, including imprisonment. Non-filers also face higher withholding tax rates and cannot reclaim these taxes. However, salaried individuals may still have taxes withheld at the source and paid to the FBR.
Out of the total National Assembly membership, 301 MNAs are listed as “Active.” The nine missing MNAs include members from Sunni Ittehad Council, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz, Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam Pakistan, and Muttahid Qaumi Movement Pakistan. The tax status of 26 other MNAs remains unknown due to unavailability of their nomination papers and NIC numbers.
FAFEN’s investigation was based on data downloaded from the FBR website and cross-verified on October 21, 2025. Citizens can check their MNAs’ filer status on the FBR website using available National Identity Card numbers.