PTBP Web Desk
The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has formally appealed to Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb for an extension in the deadline for filing income tax returns for the tax year 2025. The request comes in light of two major challenges facing taxpayers: the devastating floods that have affected millions across the country and persistent technical glitches in the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) IRIS system.
According to the PTBA, the present deadline of September 30, 2025, is unrealistic given the widespread disruption caused by natural disasters and technological hurdles. The Bar has requested that the deadline be extended by at least one month, moving it to October 31, 2025.
In its detailed letter to the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, the PTBA underlined how climate-related disasters have made it nearly impossible for taxpayers to fulfill their obligations on time. Over the past few months, Pakistan has witnessed torrential rains and devastating floods, with provinces such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Punjab, and Sindh suffering the most damage.
The floods have displaced thousands of families, destroyed infrastructure, and interrupted commercial as well as administrative activities. The PTBA noted that in several flood-affected districts, even basic connectivity and access to financial institutions remain disrupted, further complicating efforts to prepare and submit income tax returns.
These unprecedented natural calamities, the Bar argued, have left businesses and individuals alike unable to focus on compliance with taxation laws, making an extension not only fair but necessary.
While floods have posed physical challenges, technical problems with the FBR’s IRIS e-filing system have added another layer of difficulty. The PTBA acknowledged that the tax authority attempted to upgrade the system in August, but many glitches continue to frustrate taxpayers and professionals alike.
Users have complained of the IRIS portal being “completely out of order” at times, with frequent crashes preventing smooth submission of tax returns. The system’s unreliability has caused delays in uploading documents and ensuring proper disclosure of financial information.
For taxpayers already dealing with the consequences of floods, these persistent system failures have created unnecessary stress and uncertainty. According to the PTBA, the situation makes it nearly impossible for citizens to meet the current deadline without risking errors or non-compliance.
The PTBA’s request is not only about granting more time but also about safeguarding taxpayers from penal consequences under the law. Tax laws in Pakistan impose penalties on late filers, even if the delays are due to circumstances beyond their control.
The Bar emphasized that allowing an extension until October 31, 2025, would ensure that taxpayers could meet their obligations in a transparent and lawful manner. This extension would also give businesses time to recover from flood-related losses and provide individuals with a fair chance to file returns properly.
The PTBA also cautioned that failure to extend the deadline could result in reduced compliance and ultimately impact the government’s tax collection efforts. Extending the deadline, on the other hand, would allow taxpayers to file accurately and without haste, thereby enhancing transparency and trust in the tax system.
For the Finance Ministry, this request carries weight not only because of the Bar’s standing as a professional body but also because it represents the concerns of thousands of taxpayers who are facing extraordinary challenges this year.
The Finance Minister and his team now face the decision of whether to accept the PTBA’s request. Observers note that the government has previously granted extensions in tax deadlines when circumstances warranted it, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier flood emergencies.
Given the dual challenges of natural disasters and system failures, experts argue that granting an extension would be a reasonable and pragmatic step. It would also send a signal of empathy from the government towards citizens struggling in extraordinary times.
