The Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI) on Sunday called on the federal government to extend the income tax filing deadline by 48 days, citing issues with the IRIS portal and the ongoing flood situation in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
In a statement, HCSTSI President Muhammad Saleem Memon said the desired relief was necessary to facilitate taxpayers and ensure they are not subject to avoidable penalties and hardships.
According to Memon, this year’s tax filing is complicated by several changes, such as automated data uploading, interactive forms, and a new verification mechanism in the IRIS system. The situation, eh claimed, is worsened by the system not operating properly. “Taxpayers and accountants are experiencing login problems, repeated error messages and unclear issues such as ‘receipt value’ errors,” he said, noting even salaried individuals had complained of difficulties in availing the portal.
“Strict adherence to the current deadline, under these circumstances, would unjustly penalize thousands of people,” he said.
On the prevailing rain and flood situation, he said the suspension of electricity, internet, and banking services had deprived both traders and salaried individuals of timely access to their financial records and accounts. He said the prevailing conditions made it very difficult for citizens to complete their tax filing by the Sept. 30 deadline and urged the government to announce an extension immediately.