KARACHI: The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) on Friday asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to allow 90 days to tax payers for filing their returns from the date of issuance of tax forms, in line with the law.

The KTBA, in a letter addressed to FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi, objected to the FBR’s Sept 5 circular No.2(I)Cond./I.Tax/2018 asking tax commissioners to ensure payments of due tax before allowing any extension in filing of tax returns beyond the Sept 30 deadline.

The association said the draft income tax return forms for individuals, business and association of persons (AoPs) for tax year 2019 were issued on Aug 23 through SRO951. On the other hand, the letter added that FBR had also ignored suggestions from tax bar associations, which they failed to submit as they had only seven days to submit their recommendations on the 56-page draft forms.

The bar provided a long list of issues and lacunas faced by taxpayers while filing their tax returns and reminded the FBR that under Section 118 of the Income Tax Ordinance the permissible time period for filing a return is 90 days.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2019