Daily Times

KARACHI: Taxpayers are unable to file income tax return/statement for the tax year 2016 due to continuous malfunctioning of online registration system, IRIS, which is creating trust deficit between the genuine taxpayers and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). In this regard, Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has requested the Federal Board of Revenue chairman to extend time for filing of tax returns and wealth statements and statements u/s 115(4) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 till December 31, 2016. In a letter sent to the FBR chairman on Wednesday, KTBA stated that the systematic tax returns u/s 114 and statements u/s 115(4) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 are still not properly working out the tax payable, adding that the data which the taxpayer punched in and filled in is not calculating the tax properly according to the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. “IRIS is dead slow since last more than 15 days i.e. right after Ashura holidays and everyday the system is either under maintenance or showing error in connection on the web-portal, therefore, leaving no option for the taxpayers other than to wait and see. The taxpayers are not only unable to e-file the tax returns and wealth statements, but are also unable to generate the tax payment challans,” it added. KTBA has sent various suggestions and highlighted the problems which are facing by taxpayers to the FBR and Pakistan Revenue Automation (Pvt) Limited (PRAL) ,but the taxpayers are still facing everyday a new problem with ‘Tax Returns Form’ which is creating frustration and trust deficit between the genuine taxpayer and the FBR and therefore, unable to e-file their Taxes. It is pertinent to note that the Corporate Tax Returns 2016 for the Special Tax Year were also due on 30th September, 2016 duly extended upto 31st October, 2016 the final S.R.O. Reference No. 972 was issued on the 17th October, 2016 which is also a delay in issuance of the Final Corporate Tax Returns and therefore, the date of e-filing of the same should also be extended upto the 31st December, 2016.