Last Date for filing of Income Tax Returns being enhanced by FBR: report
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Tax Bar Associations, chartered accountant firms, tax advisers, and experts in taxation have jointly approached the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to request an extension of the deadline for filing income tax returns, advocating for an extended timeframe until October 31, 2023. Their plea arises due to the intricate mix of technical and legal challenges encountered during the process of filing returns. FBR has decided to enhance the last date for filing of the income tax returns keeping in mind the latest technical faults.
In a recent development, the FBR took a proactive step by disseminating automated SMS notifications to all registered taxpayers on September 24th. These messages conveyed a clear directive: "Dear taxpayer, please submit your income tax return for the fiscal year 2023 as soon as possible. The deadline for return submission is September 30, 2023, and no extensions will be granted." This resolute stance from the tax authority has heightened the urgency of the situation, prompting stakeholders to unite in seeking an extension.
The Karachi Tax Bar Association, a prominent advocate for taxpayers' rights, has brought a pressing IT glitch within the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) to the FBR's attention. This technical hiccup has effectively paralyzed taxpayers, rendering them incapable of responding to official notices—an essential element of the tax assessment and appeals process.
This recent glitch within the system is of particular concern as it directly impacts a taxpayer's ability to address notices issued by IR Officers (IROs) following modifications made to appeal orders by the Commissioner Inland Revenue- Appeals (CIR-A). Typically, when a CIR-A makes adjustments to an assessment order, the corresponding IRO issues a notice to the taxpayer for further proceedings. Regrettably, the current version of IRIS, IRIS 2.0, lacks the requisite functionality to facilitate the submission of a reply or response by the taxpayer in such circumstances. In light of these multifaceted challenges, the call for an extension of the income tax return filing deadline stands as a pragmatic and necessary request to afford taxpayers the necessary time to navigate these technical and legal obstacles effectively.
