Islamabad, September 28, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a formal advisory urging citizens to access tax-related information through the IRIS tax returns portal rather than relying on the malfunctioning Tax Maloomat system.
This directive comes as the Tax Maloomat portal, initially introduced to streamline access to tax deduction information, continues to face technical difficulties, leaving many taxpayers frustrated as the deadline for income tax return filing looms.
In a statement released on Saturday, an FBR spokesperson emphasized the functionality and availability of the necessary information on the IRIS portal. “The same data is already available in the IRIS tax returns portal,” the spokesperson said, encouraging citizens to bypass the unresponsive Tax Maloomat platform and verify their tax deductions through IRIS instead.
The advisory follows growing complaints from taxpayers, many of whom report receiving unexpected notices from the FBR concerning tax obligations. One taxpayer lamented receiving a notification to file an income tax return for the year 2024, despite having neither taxable income nor significant transactions. In an attempt to clarify the issue, the taxpayer visited the Tax Maloomat portal, only to find it non-functional.
For many, shifting to the IRIS portal presents additional challenges. Unlike the previously user-friendly Tax Maloomat, IRIS requires users to undergo a more complex registration process, which includes creating an account and navigating through a series of steps before accessing their tax information. This shift is particularly burdensome with just two days remaining until the September 30 deadline for filing income tax returns.
The breakdown of the Tax Maloomat portal underscores broader concerns regarding the FBR’s digital infrastructure. Designed to facilitate seamless tax filing and enhance transparency for citizens, the Tax Maloomat portal has instead become a source of frustration at a critical juncture. With the deadline fast approaching, many taxpayers are scrambling to ensure compliance while grappling with the unavailability of key resources.
Despite these challenges, the FBR has remained firm in its stance, reiterating that the September 30 deadline will not be extended. This has placed increased pressure on taxpayers to shift to IRIS quickly, despite the portal’s more intricate processes. For those unaccustomed to navigating the complexities of the digital tax system, this last-minute adjustment has only added to the mounting anxieties surrounding tax filing.
The FBR now faces the dual challenge of addressing the immediate technical issues with its systems while maintaining its commitment to deadlines, as the nation’s taxpaying public seeks both clarity and convenience in these final hours.
