KARACHI: The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has formally written to the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Rashid Mahmood Langrial, raising serious concerns regarding access issues faced on the IRIS portal, particularly in the context of filing sales tax returns for June 2025.
The letter, dated July 16, 2025, highlights operational challenges posed by the current QR code authentication system, especially for overseas taxpayers, corporate entities, and authorized intermediaries.
KTBA noted that the one-channel QR code delivery system — limited to SMS on a registered mobile — is causing difficulties in various practical scenarios, such as when a taxpayer is abroad, or when the registered mobile number is not accessible by corporate representatives during compliance deadlines.
To resolve the matter, KTBA has proposed a threefold solution:
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Activate E-Intermediary Functionality: Fully implement the provisions of Section 52A of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, and relevant income tax rules to allow tax consultants to access and manage clients' records for timely compliance.
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Triple-Channel QR Code Delivery: Send QR codes via SMS, WhatsApp, and email simultaneously, allowing users to log in through any of these channels. This would ensure accessibility even when SMS fails, especially for overseas taxpayers.
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Corporate Access Flexibility: Enable multiple authorized compliance officers to access IRIS under separate credentials linked to the business NTN for uninterrupted compliance.
Additionally, KTBA requested a 60-day grace period to allow taxpayers to update their registered mobile numbers and emails in the IRIS system before enforcing the new authentication method.
In light of these challenges, KTBA has urged FBR to extend the filing deadline for the June 2025 sales tax return to July 30, 2025, to avoid penalizing taxpayers for delays beyond their control.
The association emphasized that their proposals support FBR’s digitalization drive while safeguarding taxpayer rights and easing compliance burdens.
