It said that KTBA members were still making their best efforts to get better understanding of this new software in utilizing for their timely filings and added that the FBR automation drive could not achieve the desired results within the time period given by the board to understand and follow the same.
Furthermore, it said that this software which, the KTBA reiterated must continue now onwards and should not be sabotaged because of mere time limitations and initial hiccups. Therefore, the FBR is urged to extend the due date of return filing for a month's time and not to let this larger objective of automation, compromised.
In addition, the notification of the finalized tax return forms (individuals and AOPs) was issued on August 17th 2018 thus providing only 44 days for filing of return against the permissible 90 days. It said that the time specified under the law for filing the tax return/ statement of final taxation and wealth statement by salaried individuals was two months from end of financial year on June 30, 2018 till prescribed filing date of August 31, 2018.
Similarly, three months by business individuals till September 30, 2018 after their year-end. Since the SRO for the tax returns was issued belatedly by 47 days, the whole permissible period of 60 or the 90, as the case may be, has not been allowed Moreover the return forms for companies have not yet been finalized due to which companies with special tax year cannot make filing as such.
The draft return forms for companies were issued vide SRO 1091 of 2018 on September 04, 2018 but the forms are still pending for finalization. Apart from the paucity of time, the taxpayers remain unable to file returns timely due to certain IT glitches with IRIS, which are being brought by the members to grab the attention of FBR Help desk.
During September, the federal government, which presented its supplementary budget, has so far not issued budget explanatory circular was also pending and the offices were closed for four days to observe Ashura.
KTBA said that it would be unfair with genuine taxpayers to compel them to accomplish something which was not reasonable and the position became more troublesome due the recent change by insertion of the new section 182A under the income tax law whereby the late filing exposed the taxpayer to be treated as "non-filer" for the whole of the next year because his name and NTN would not be included in the active taxpayers' list till March 2020. Therefore, it is requested to extend the last date of filing of income tax return and statement of final taxation by October 31, 2018.