Karachi, October 1, 2024 – The Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has called on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to urgently address ongoing issues with its online tax return filing platform, IRIS.
According to KATI, the inefficiencies in the system are impeding businesses from filing their tax returns on time, threatening to disrupt compliance and tax collection efforts.
In a statement, KATI’s newly elected President, Junaid Naqi, urged the FBR Chairman to take immediate action in rectifying the performance of the IRIS system, which has been plagued by sluggishness and recurring outages. Naqi emphasized the importance of a fully functional platform to ensure a seamless tax return filing process, allowing businesses to meet their obligations without technical hindrances.
“We are facing a critical situation where businesses, despite their willingness to comply, are unable to file returns due to technical glitches in the IRIS system. This is unacceptable, especially during a period when the country is striving to meet its revenue targets,” Naqi stated. He further noted that such disruptions could have a detrimental impact on both the business community and the overall economic landscape of Pakistan.
KATI also expressed gratitude for the recent extension of the tax return filing deadline to October 14, 2024, following a directive by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Naqi praised this decision, acknowledging that it offers thousands of taxpayers—many of whom were previously unable to file their returns due to the technical problems—an extended window to meet their tax obligations.
“The extension is a welcome relief for taxpayers and is testament to the Prime Minister’s responsiveness to the concerns of chambers, trade bodies, and tax associations. This move will not only assist businesses but also provide a much-needed boost to the national economy,” Naqi added.
Naqi also highlighted that as of now, the FBR has collected PKR 2,452 billion against its target of PKR 2,539 billion, leaving a shortfall of PKR 87 billion. He expressed confidence that, with the extended deadline and resolution of the IRIS issues, more taxpayers will be able to file their returns, helping to bridge this revenue gap.
KATI reiterated its call for the FBR to simplify the return filing process and improve its digital infrastructure. Naqi stressed that an efficient and user-friendly tax filing system is vital for expanding the country’s tax net, encouraging compliance, and fostering economic growth.
