Karachi Tax Bar Association requests FBR to extend sales tax filing deadline

The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing sales tax returns for June due to persistent technical issues with the IRIS system.

In a letter to the FBR chairman, the KTBA pointed out frequent downtimes and login failures that have hindered taxpayers, consultants, and businesses from meeting deadlines.

While the KTBA expressed support for the FBR’s efforts to improve security, it raised concerns about the authentication system. Specifically, the requirement for QR codes to be sent exclusively to a taxpayer’s registered mobile number has been problematic, especially for overseas taxpayers who cannot receive SMS messages from Pakistan.

The association also highlighted the issues faced by corporate taxpayers whose registered mobile numbers may belong to employees or directors who are unavailable during filing periods. 

Moreover, authorized representatives, such as e-intermediaries and accountants, cannot file returns or ensure compliance on behalf of clients despite having legal authorization.