Salaried class forms group to protest unfair taxation

July 09, 2023 (MLN): A joint group of the salaried class has been formed called "Save the Salaried Class" to take up the matter of unfair taxation on the salaried class.

To address the recent imposition of further direct taxation measures on the salaried class, specifically, the 2.5% increase in taxes coupled with changes to income slabs, more than 500 salaried individuals are signing a protest letter.

"The salaried class is already grappling with the harsh realities of high inflation, increased GST, elevated petroleum levies, escalating energy costs, and limited employment opportunities" it reads.

The proposed tax rate hike and alteration of income slabs will significantly reduce their net disposable income, further straining those who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Thus, the proposed changes will severely impact the salaried class.

Above increase is over and above the exorbitantly high tax burden already passed to the salaried class via Finance Act 2023 where not only the tax rates were increased substantially, but also several tax credits were withdrawn.

Moreover, the substantial devaluation of PKR against major currencies has resulted in a significant decrease (over 50%) in the purchasing power of the salaried class. They are finding it increasingly challenging to meet their daily expenses and manage their households.

It is crucial to note that private sector employees, who constitute the majority of the workforce, have not experienced salary increases in line with the escalating inflation rates.

In contrast, government employees and select sectors have seen their incomes rise, exacerbating the income disparity between different segments of society.

Unlike businesses in corporate, industry, trade, and service sectors, salaried individuals are not allowed to claim their expenses against their income, further limiting their ability to manage their finances effectively.

It is worth highlighting that in the previous budget, the government withdrew tax shields on investments, adding to their financial burdens.

Additionally, in prior budgets, major claimable expenses for the salaried class have also been eliminated.

Consequently, within a short span of time, the tax burden on the salaried class has significantly increased, creating severe financial hardships.

The effective tax rate on the salaried class is the highest among all income sources.

Government needs to explore alternative avenues for generating tax revenue, such as focusing on the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector, which contributes a significant 18% to the GDP, but its tax contribution remains disproportionately low at only 1%.

Similarly, other sectors are also not contributing sufficiently to tax revenue in comparison to their share in the GDP.

"We understand that there are legal matters in bringing those strata of the economy into tax net but squeezing the already tax paying sector of the economy is sheer injustice for one sector only. Implementing fair taxation measures across all sectors would ensure a more equitable distribution of the tax burden." They noted.

The salaried class is comprised of law-abiding citizens who hold integrity as a fundamental value. They do not engage in illegal income generation.

However, the persistently high inflation, which has hovered around 38% for several months, has further exacerbated their financial challenges, making it increasingly difficult for them to meet their basic needs.

"In light of these concerns, we request the Honorable Finance Minister to reconsider the proposed taxation measures and provide much-needed relief to the salaried class by restoring deductible allowances in the computation of their taxable income." They wrote.

This would help alleviate their financial burdens and promote a more equitable tax system.

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