Taxpayers urge FBR to extend income tax filing deadline amid IRIS glitches

ISLAMABAD: Taxpayers, business owners, and professional tax bodies across Pakistan have once again urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns, citing persistent technical problems and complexity in the IRIS online filing system.

As of Wednesday morning, the FBR had not issued any official statement regarding a possible extension. However, several tax advisors suggested that the authority might announce an extension later in the day. According to one tax consultant, “It is quite possible that the notification could come tonight, as the FBR is well aware of the ongoing system issues.”

Taxpayers frustrated with technical issues

Many individuals have complained about facing repeated system errors while trying to submit their returns. Abdul Rehman Saeed, a Lahore-based banker who has been filing his tax returns for years, said the process has become “unnecessarily” complicated.

“The system is so complex now. There are too many categories, and it keeps showing glitches. I used to file my return myself, but this year I could not understand it,” he said.

FPCCI calls for October 31 extension

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has formally requested the FBR to extend the filing deadline for the 2025 tax year from October 15 to October 31.

In a letter addressed to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said businesses are struggling to meet the existing deadline due to technical and administrative hurdles.

He mentioned delays in obtaining essential financial documents, problems integrating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and frequent slowdowns in the FBR’s online portal.

“The extension will provide much-needed relief to taxpayers struggling to fulfil their legal obligations amid genuine constraints,” Sheikh said.

According to the FPCCI, these technical glitches and delays have created pressure on both individuals and businesses. The chamber noted that extending the deadline would help ensure better compliance and more accurate tax filing.

Tax associations seek longer relief

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) and Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) have jointly demanded that the deadline be extended to November 15, 2025. They argued that technical glitches in the IRIS system, coupled with a shortened filing window, have left taxpayers with insufficient time to meet their obligations.

The PTBA said taxpayers have been responding positively to FBR’s automated messages regarding assets, bank transactions, and spending, and that an extension would allow them to file complete and transparent returns.

On the other hand, KTBA highlighted that several unresolved technical problems still persist despite multiple communications with the tax authority. The association said it had sent detailed letters to the FBR in August and September, outlining the glitches and inconsistencies in the system, but most issues remain unresolved.

The KTBA also pointed out that while the law allows a 92-day period for filing tax returns, the FBR issued the final return form on August 18, effectively cutting the filing period short by nearly 49 days.

“This extension is imperative to provide taxpayers a fair and reasonable opportunity to fulfil their legal duties without being penalised for no fault of their own,” the KTBA said in its statement.

Announcement expected before midnight

While frustration continues to mount among taxpayers, the FBR has yet to make an official announcement. Many expect the board to grant an extension before midnight, following the growing pressure from business and tax associations.

If granted, the move would provide temporary relief to millions of taxpayers struggling to file their returns through a system many describe as both complicated and unreliable.

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