Thursday was the last date for filing of income tax returns but the FBR’s online system has once again gone down leaving millions of filers in the lurch. The speed of the FBR system – Iris – has slowed down due to heavy traffic and millions of taxpayers and consultants were in a fix what to do amid calls for extension in the deadline, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Reportedly, 36 tax bars of Punjab including Lahore have demanded of the FBR to extend the deadline. 

Earlier, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) refused to extend the date of filing of income tax returns beyond September 30, 2021. 

Spokesman for the Bureau Asad Tahir has made it clear that all persons, associations of persons and companies will have to submit their returns on the due date. “The taxpayers are asked to file their returns on the given date in order to avoid legal complications,” he added. 

The notification issued by the FBR, however, has authorised the commissioners with extending the deadline for the taxpayers whose cases fall in the ‘hardship’ category by 15 days.

The spokesman further said that the bureau was making the IRS system easier. “Around 150, 000 ‘record’ income tax returns were filed on September 28,” he informed.

He said that just like the previous year, the FBR had enhanced its capacity to facilitate the taxpayers.