Karachi, September 28, 2024 – With the looming deadline for the submission of income tax returns for the fiscal year 2024, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has raised alarms over persistent glitches in the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) online return filing portal, IRIS.
With just two days remaining before the September 30 deadline, these issues are causing substantial delays and frustration for taxpayers across the country.
As the last date for filing approaches, millions of individuals and corporate entities are scrambling to meet their obligations. However, the IRIS portal’s technical malfunctions have sparked widespread complaints from taxpayers, threatening their ability to comply with the law on time. KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh voiced deep concerns regarding the inefficiency of the system, stressing the urgent need for improvements.
“Taxpayers are facing significant difficulties in filing their income tax returns today,” stated KCCI president. “FBR’s online return submission portal is malfunctioning, leading to growing frustration among taxpayers.”
According to KCCI President, many users have reported system crashes, unresponsive pages, and delays during the submission process. These issues are compounded by the complexity and sluggishness of the IRIS platform, which not only hinders timely submission but also deters compliance.
“The slow speed and the intricate nature of the system are actively discouraging people from filing their returns,” said KCCI President, emphasizing that FBR must urgently address these technological shortcomings. “In order to reduce the hardships faced by taxpayers, the system’s capacity must be enhanced.”
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, KCCI President called for an immediate extension of the tax filing deadline. “Given the mounting challenges, we strongly urge FBR to extend the deadline for the submission of returns by one month, moving it to October 31, 2024. This extension is crucial to ensure that all members of the business community have sufficient time to comply.”
Sheikh further warned that without this extension, a significant number of taxpayers, particularly from the business sector, would fail to meet the September 30 deadline. “The current system’s inefficiencies are creating a barrier to compliance, and unless these issues are resolved promptly, the resulting backlog will be detrimental to both businesses and the economy at large.”
As the deadline looms, all eyes are on FBR to provide a timely resolution and offer a much-needed reprieve for taxpayers.