The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has formally urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2025 from October 15 to October 31. The appeal comes as businesses and individual taxpayers continue to face multiple hurdles in completing their filings on time, primarily due to technical and procedural complications.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, in a statement on Monday, confirmed that the chamber has written a letter to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, outlining the concerns of the business community. According to the letter, many taxpayers are struggling with delays in acquiring essential financial documents, persistent portal errors, and challenges in integrating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems with the tax authority’s digital invoicing infrastructure.
Atif Ikram Sheikh emphasized the importance of adopting a more taxpayer-centric approach to foster compliance and trust. He stated that a short extension of the filing deadline would provide necessary relief to businesses facing genuine operational constraints. He noted that the current technical environment is making it difficult for many companies to meet their legal obligations, putting additional pressure on an already challenging compliance cycle.
The FPCCI statement further highlighted that the FBR’s online filing portal has frequently experienced performance issues, including slow processing times and unexpected technical glitches. These problems have created significant bottlenecks for businesses attempting to submit their returns ahead of the deadline. Many companies also report ongoing difficulties in retrieving verified records from relevant institutions, adding another layer of complexity to the process.
The business community has also raised concerns over the incomplete integration of ERP systems with the FBR’s digital invoicing framework. This integration is crucial for accurate and timely reporting of transactions, but delays and inconsistencies in the system are resulting in filing disruptions. For many businesses, particularly medium-sized enterprises, this has become a major obstacle to meeting tax obligations on time.
FPCCI maintains that extending the deadline would not only ease pressure on taxpayers but also help ensure greater accuracy and broader participation in the tax net. The chamber believes that a well-timed extension can support businesses in fulfilling their compliance duties without the burden of last-minute technical setbacks. This, in turn, could help improve overall tax collection efficiency.
The request for extension also reflects a growing recognition of the need for smoother digital processes and stronger technical infrastructure to support the country’s tax ecosystem. With the increasing reliance on digital invoicing and online filing, the efficiency of these systems directly affects compliance rates.
If approved, the proposed 15-day extension would provide businesses additional time to complete their filings while allowing the FBR to address the ongoing technical issues. It could also help reduce filing errors, boost trust in the tax system, and create a more supportive environment for taxpayers.
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