500 Bugs Detected in 2026 FBR Tax Return Form

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introduced the new income tax return for Tax Year 2026, but the system has been plagued with hundreds of technical bugs, posing challenges for taxpayers and tax professionals as the September 30 filing deadline looms, according to ProPakistani. The tax return was implemented by Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) following Change Request Forms (CRFs) from the FBR, which outlined amendments resulting from approved tax measures in the federal budget.

PRAL, acting as the FBR's technical execution team, implemented these system changes based on approved requirements and CRFs issued by FBR domain teams. The FBR has deployed over two dozen IRS officers and Domain Officers to PRAL to enhance coordination and ensure that operational and legal requirements are integrated into the software.

However, the initial version of the return contained approximately 500 bugs and technical issues, which PRAL has since been working to resolve. The majority of these issues were reportedly addressed after the migration to new infrastructure. Despite these problems, the tax collected through returns filed so far is lower compared to the same period last year, raising questions about the quality assurance and testing of the digital tax system.

The FBR defended the new return, stating it represents a significant advancement in their digital transformation, with the aim of collecting more accurate data, linking assets with income, and simplifying the filing process. The introduction of a feature for immovable property is intended to improve data accuracy by linking property ownership, rental income, and agricultural income.

The FBR's joint team with PRAL remains committed to resolving taxpayer concerns and ensuring a smooth, transparent, and modernized tax filing process as the deadline approaches.