Karachi — Tax professionals and individual filers are increasingly facing difficulties in revising their filed income tax returns, an essential right under Pakistani tax law for correcting genuine errors or omissions. This issue has drawn concern across the tax community, prompting the Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) to formally raise the matter with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
In a detailed letter to the FBR Chairman, the PTBA highlighted that the current revision process is not only inconsistent with Section 114(6) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, but also obstructs taxpayers’ ability to fulfill their legal obligations accurately. The law clearly allows filers to revise their returns upon discovering any omission or incorrect statement, and mandates that such revisions be processed within a 60-day timeframe.
However, tax professionals report that the IRIS system, the FBR’s online tax portal, is not aligned with these legal provisions. Users are facing prolonged delays in securing revision approvals, which should, in many cases, be automatically permitted once the statutory waiting period has passed. As a result, taxpayers are left vulnerable to penalties, audits, or adverse interpretations by field officers—despite their intent to comply voluntarily.
The PTBA has called on the FBR to urgently resolve the discrepancy between the legal framework and the technical limitations of the IRIS platform. The association emphasizes that if the current situation persists, taxpayers may be unfairly exposed to arbitrary enforcement actions, particularly where revenue collection targets are prioritized over fair assessment procedures.
This situation is especially concerning for professionals and businesses in Karachi, where a high volume of tax compliance activities takes place. The inability to amend returns in a timely manner undermines trust in the system and creates unnecessary risk for compliant taxpayers.
The PTBA’s request is clear: FBR must align the IRIS portal with the rights granted under the Income Tax Ordinance, ensuring that legitimate corrections can be made without delay or bureaucratic hindrance. Doing so will not only uphold the legal rights of filers but also reinforce confidence in Pakistan’s evolving digital tax infrastructure.
Need help revising your tax return?
At Sterling Consultancy, we help individuals and businesses manage return revisions, tax compliance, and communication with tax authorities. Contact our team to ensure your tax filings are accurate and protected under the law.
