Tax Lawyers Urge FBR to Fix IRIS With Filing Deadline Just Weeks Away

The Pakistan Tax Bar Association has pressed the Federal Board of Revenue to promptly address delays, bugs, and technical issues plaguing the IRIS portal, as the filing deadline for Tax Year 2026 approaches. The association expressed concern that the portal's problems are creating difficulties for taxpayers and tax professionals in submitting their income tax returns, despite the timeline set by Rule 34A of the Income Tax Rules, 2002.

The PTBA noted that the Tax Year 2026 return was uploaded on July 27, but the delayed launch left limited time for completion. The issues were highlighted during a training session on August 25 in Lahore, where participants pointed out multiple problems with the IRIS system. The tax bar urged the FBR to ensure timely uploads, properly tested systems, and the resolution of technical problems without delay.

They also objected to the extensive property details required through the IRIS portal, suggesting that taxpayers should provide details of already-owned properties in the following tax year to reduce the burden. The PTBA pointed out that taxpayers can self-record income attribution under Section 148, but not under Section 153, and called for FBR to review and introduce a uniform mechanism.

Additionally, they criticized the removal of the auto-save facility, which could lead to unnecessary re-entry of information and extend the time required to complete returns. The PTBA has called for immediate corrective actions to enable taxpayers to complete their Tax Year 2026 returns without further technical obstacles.