The Withholding Tax Certificate is an important document in Pakistan’s tax system. It provides official proof of tax deductions made at the source. It confirms that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received the taxes withheld from various income sources, including salaries, contracts, and financial transactions.
Section 164 of Pakistan’s Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 mandates all withholding agents – including employers, banks, and service providers – to issue these certificates to individuals and entities after deducting taxes. The FBR requires taxpayers to attach these certificates when submitting annual returns, ensuring accurate tax credit claims and avoiding potential penalties for discrepancies.
Bank Alfalah’s Alfa App demonstrates how technology simplifies tax compliance. Customers can generate their certificates digitally by first logging into the mobile application. The process involves navigating to the “Tax Management” section under the main menu, selecting the relevant account and withholding tax type, specifying the transaction period, and instantly generating the document.
Read: Pakistan Proposes 9.5% Withholding Tax on Non-Filers for High-Value Property Sales
These certificates serve multiple critical functions. They enable taxpayers to verify proper tax remittance to the FBR, support income tax return filings, and help claim legitimate tax credits. The digitisation of this process through banking applications represents a significant step forward in Pakistan’s tax administration efficiency, reducing paperwork while improving accessibility.
Tax professionals emphasise maintaining organised records of all withholding certificates throughout the fiscal year. The FBR may request these documents during audits or return processing. Digital solutions like Bank Alfalah’s system help taxpayers maintain this documentation securely while providing immediate access when needed for submissions or verifications