Atif Ikram Sheikh cites IRIS system issues, tax-law complexities and pressure on businesses as reasons for extending the deadline to October 31.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has urged the federal government and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns by one month to October 31, 2026, citing technical problems with the IRIS system and difficulties faced by taxpayers.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said the extension was necessary to facilitate businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), tax practitioners and individual taxpayers ahead of the September 30 deadline.
He said the request was not intended as a concession but as a practical measure to improve tax compliance, broaden the tax base and reduce pressure on taxpayers facing difficulties in completing their filings.
According to FPCCI, the FBR’s IRIS portal has experienced slowdowns, glitches and periods of unavailability because of heavy traffic as the filing deadline approaches. These disruptions have made it difficult for taxpayers and tax practitioners to submit income tax returns and wealth statements within the existing timeframe.
IRIS System Creates Filing Challenges
Sheikh said tax lawyers, chartered accountants and business owners were facing difficulties because of system congestion, particularly during peak hours. He argued that taxpayers should not face penalties because of technical limitations in the tax administration system.
FPCCI said an additional month would provide taxpayers with more time to reconcile accounts, prepare documentation and complete filings without the risk of losing work because of system failures.
The business body also pointed to recent amendments to tax laws and reporting requirements, saying their complexity had created additional challenges for taxpayers preparing wealth reconciliations and other required information.
SMEs Face Additional Pressure
FPCCI said high inflation and rising operating costs had further stretched the administrative capacity of businesses, particularly SMEs. Some companies were still working to complete financial audits and gather the documentation required for filing.
Sheikh said extending the deadline could also support the government’s objective of increasing the number of active tax filers. According to FPCCI, allowing additional time could help taxpayers submit more accurate returns while reducing the risk of legitimate businesses falling into the non-filer category.
The FPCCI president appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial to consider the request and address the reported technical issues.
The federation said it remained ready to work with the FBR to resolve problems with the filing system and improve the overall tax compliance process.