LAHORE (special crosspondent) – The Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) has formally urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for the mandatory annual biometric re-verification under Rule 5(4) of the Sales Tax Rules, 2006, until August 31, 2026. This administrative appeal reflects growing concerns among the business community regarding operational bottlenecks in tax compliance procedures.

Operational Challenges and Systemic Glitches

In an official letter addressed to FBR Member Inland Revenue (Operations) Zubair Bilal, LTBA office-bearers detailed the significant challenges currently impeding compliance. The association noted that an extraordinary surge in footfall at NADRA e-Sahulat centres, coupled with persistent technical glitches and intermittent failures within the FBR’s IRIS system, has prevented thousands of taxpayers from fulfilling their legal obligations within the currently stipulated timeframe.

Impact on Taxpayers and Compliance

The LTBA maintained that taxpayers should not be penalized for delays resulting from obstacles entirely beyond their control. The association underscored that the convergence of the biometric re-verification deadline with the statutory due date for filing June 2026 sales tax returns has created severe logistical hurdles for the business community and tax practitioners alike. Furthermore, persistent delays in data synchronization between NADRA and the FBR have significantly hampered the electronic return-filing process.

Proposed Solutions for the FBR

The LTBA has called upon the FBR to approve an extension until August 31, urging the regulatory body to direct PRAL, NADRA, and relevant field formations to immediately resolve the prevailing technical and operational issues to ensure the uninterrupted filing of sales tax returns. Additionally, the association requested that taxpayers whose biometric verification remains incomplete due to these technical failures be granted permission to file their returns through the IRIS portal without necessitating prior approval from the Commissioner. Similar discussions regarding regulatory efficiency have previously been highlighted in efforts to improve Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar Emphasizes Stronger Pakistan-UK Bilateral Ties as the government works to streamline national fiscal policy.