Faceless taxman

IN June 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a New Tax Operating Model — launched this month — to adopt a centralised, digital ‘faceless’ system that replaces individual tax officers with one that has sweeping authority over taxpayers’ cases. Cases will be allocated via an algorithm, and the hearings will move online. The goal is to end direct, discretionary contact between officials and taxpayers, which has long been accused of harassment, bribery, and outright collusion. It remained only a policy announcement until the Finance Bill 2026 , which took effect on July 1, 2026, gave the…