The Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has urged the government and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the income tax return filing deadline by at least one month, citing persistent technical problems and slow processing on the online IRIS portal.
KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan said system disruptions were preventing many traders and industrialists from completing their tax returns despite an earlier 15-day extension. He called for immediate relief for affected taxpayers and improvements to the online filing system.
IRIS Portal Glitches Disrupt Tax Return Filing
According to Sheikh Umer Rehan, taxpayers continue to face difficulties using the FBR’s IRIS portal, with technical problems creating uncertainty and frustration during the filing process.
Reported issues include system freezes, problems uploading required data, delays in processing submissions and difficulties generating payment challans. These disruptions have made it challenging for many businesses to complete their returns within the prescribed timeframe.
The KATI president said it would be unfair to hold taxpayers entirely responsible for missing the deadline when technical shortcomings in the online system were contributing to filing delays.
KATI Seeks One-Month Extension for Taxpayers
Sheikh Umer Rehan called on the government and the FBR to grant an additional month for filing income tax returns, arguing that the previous 15-day extension had not provided sufficient relief to taxpayers facing continuing technical difficulties.
He also urged the authorities to waive late-filing fees and penalties for taxpayers whose returns were delayed because of technical faults in the IRIS system.
According to KATI, the additional time would allow businesses to prepare and submit accurate, complete returns rather than rush through the process amid system disruptions.
Business Community Backs Tax Compliance but Seeks Facilitation
The KATI president said the business and industrial community was willing to cooperate with the government in supporting economic growth, increasing tax revenues and broadening the tax base.
However, he stressed that these objectives required an efficient, reliable and user-friendly tax administration system.
He said facilitating taxpayers and maintaining confidence in the tax system should remain key priorities. When digital filing platforms experience technical problems, the authorities should introduce practical measures to prevent businesses from facing unnecessary pressure, late-filing charges and penalties.
FBR Urged to Improve IRIS Capacity and Technical Support
KATI has called on the FBR to address the IRIS portal’s technical shortcomings on a priority basis. The association also urged the tax authority to improve system capacity and technical support to reduce the risk of similar disruptions in the future.
A more reliable filing platform would help taxpayers meet their legal obligations within the stipulated timeframe while supporting smoother tax administration and compliance.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Asked to Intervene
Sheikh Umer Rehan appealed to the prime minister and the finance minister to take immediate notice of the difficulties faced by industrialists and traders.
He urged them to issue the necessary directives to the FBR to resolve the portal-related problems and provide affected taxpayers with adequate time to complete their filings.
KATI maintains that a one-month extension, alongside relief from penalties for delays attributable to system faults, would provide much-needed support to the business community and help improve the accuracy of tax returns.