FPCCI seeks one-month extension for income tax return filing deadline

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has called on the government and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns by one month.

FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said the extension would provide relief to the business community and help broaden the country’s tax base.

He said the FBR’s IRIS portal has repeatedly experienced slowdowns and crashes due to heavy traffic, creating difficulties for taxpayers attempting to file their returns.

“The business community should not be penalized for system failures and weaknesses in digital infrastructure,” Sheikh said, urging the authorities to take immediate measures to address the issue.

He said the business community remained committed to fulfilling its tax obligations and contributing its due share to the national exchequer.

According to Sheikh, recent amendments to tax laws and reporting requirements have also created confusion among traders and businesses, making additional time necessary for them to comply with the requirements.

He noted that inflation and ongoing economic challenges were placing considerable pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Sheikh warned that failure to extend the deadline could result in a number of businesses being classified as non-filers and exposed to penalties.

The FPCCI president urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the FBR chairman to take immediate notice of the situation and consider the practical difficulties being faced by taxpayers.