IRIS Portal Glitch Hinders Sales Tax Return Revisions

Registered taxpayers in Pakistan are facing difficulties revising their sales tax returns due to a technical issue in the Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR) IRIS portal. This glitch prevents them from submitting applications after the standard 120-day revision window.

Understanding Sales Tax Return Revisions:

• The Sales Tax Act, 1990, grants taxpayers the right to revise their sales tax returns within 120 days of filing (Section 26(3)). However, approval from the Commissioner is mandatory.
• If the 120-day window closes, taxpayers can still apply for condonation under Section 74 to enable revision.

The IRIS Portal Issue:

• The online process involves requesting condonation approval from the Commissioner followed by a revision application.
• A crucial step requires a "reference order number" on the condonation application page. This number is no longer auto-populating in the IRIS portal.
• Previously, this number automatically appeared, referencing the specific return for revision. Its absence now renders application submission impossible.

Impact on Taxpayers:

• The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) raised concerns about this glitch, highlighting the challenges faced by taxpayers seeking to revise their returns.
• Numerous complaints have reportedly been sent to the FBR helpline via email and calls, but no resolution has been communicated.

Call to Action:

• The KTBA urges the FBR's IT member to intervene and address the issue with the PRAL team.
• A swift fix is needed to restore the automatic generation of reference order numbers, allowing taxpayers to resume submitting condonation and revision applications seamlessly.

This article was published at IRIS Portal Glitch Hinders Taxpayers’ Ability to Revise Sales Tax Returns