Karachi, March 20, 2025 – The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has called upon the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the sales tax return filing deadline due to technical issues affecting taxpayers on the IRIS portal.
KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, in a formal letter to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, on Thursday emphasized the urgent challenges faced by businesses while filing their sales tax returns for February 2025. He highlighted that numerous KCCI member firms have reported difficulties stemming from discrepancies in the system.
One of the major concerns raised by KCCI is the issue related to Units of Measurement (UOM) in the sales tax return filing process. The IRIS portal has fixed UOM as Kilograms (Kgs), which, while suitable for many industries, is impractical for several businesses that require an alternative unit such as Number of Pieces (Pcs). This limitation has made it difficult for affected taxpayers to file their sales tax returns correctly and on time.
KCCI acknowledged that FBR has recognized this anomaly and initiated corrective measures on March 20, 2025. However, due to this disruption, numerous taxpayers remain unable to complete their sales tax filings within the stipulated time frame.
Given the circumstances, KCCI has urged FBR to extend the deadline for sales tax return submission until the issue is fully resolved. The chamber stressed that businesses should be provided adequate time to comply with their tax obligations without facing unnecessary penalties due to system limitations.
KCCI also underscored the need for a proactive approach to prevent such technical discrepancies from arising in the future. The chamber requested urgent intervention from FBR’s chairman to not only resolve the current issue but also ensure a smooth and error-free experience for taxpayers in subsequent filing periods.
By addressing these concerns, FBR can reinforce confidence in the tax system and facilitate businesses in fulfilling their obligations efficiently. KCCI remains committed to working with FBR to enhance the ease of doing business and improve compliance mechanisms for the benefit of the business community.