Karachi, November 21, 2014 (PPI-OT): KARACHI: President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, while expressing concern over taxpayers’ inability to file returns before the deadline due to serious flaws in IRIS system, reiterated KCCI’s demand to extend last date for filing returns up to December 31, 2014 in order to enable taxpayers to fulfill their tax obligations.
He said that keeping in view the complex e-filing procedures and flaws in IRIS system, KCCI had earlier demanded to extend last date up to December 31, 2014 but the FBR extended it for a very short period which ended on November 21, 2014.
In a letter issued to Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Tariq Bajwa, President KCCI requested the FBR to resolve issues in the IRIS system on urgent basis and allow at least four weeks to file tax returns.
President KCCI further pointed out that to date, majority of business houses and taxpayers have not been able to file income tax returns for the year 2014 due to errors in “IRIS” software program.
“We have received complaints from many of our members that they cannot complete and upload the tax return because the system does not include a number of provisions necessary to complete the return”, Iftikhar Vohra said.
If the date is not extended further, it would result in penalizing the taxpayers while the FBR would not be able achieve the target, he added.
Iftikhar Vohra further suggested that to further facilitate the taxpayers, FBR should allow filing of returns on old e-form used in the year 2013 in order to save time and unnecessary penalties.
President KCCI thoroughly highlighted serious flaws in the IRIS system which have intensified the hardships for taxpayers who, despite their good intention, have not been able to file their returns within the specified period.
Reiterating KCCI’s demand to extend the date for filing of returns for 2014 up to 31st December 2014, he hoped that FBR would take immediate corrective measures to facilitate the tax payers and prevent revenue losses.
For more information, contact:
Aamir Hassan
Director Press/Electronic Media and Public Relations
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)
Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Off Shahrah-e-Liaquat,
Karachi-74000
Phone: +92-21-99218001-09
Fax: +92-21-99218040
Email: info@kcci.com.pk, secretary@kcci.com.pk
Website: www.kcci.com.pk