Taxpayers likely to miss deadline: FBR fails to upload ST return form on website
By: MUHAMMAD ALI
Taxpayers are likely to miss the deadline of e-filing sales tax returns as Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has failed to post new sales tax return form on its website. Talking to Business Recorder on phone, several agitated taxpayers complained that the recurrent amendments to the returns form are causing delay in uploading it on web portal that caused creating hindrance for taxpayers to meet the deadline of its submission (August 15).
They requested the board to expedite the process of formulating revised return form to provide maximum relief to the taxpayers and urged the board to extend the date of e-filing of sales tax returns. Replying to a question, they said the taxpayers in the past had faced immense difficulties when the board introduced amendments to sales tax return as the authority did not conduct seminars to educate the taxpayers about the revisions in return form.
Moreover, they said the board is presently keen to make amendments to sales tax form that causing delay in uploading the same on website. They appealed the board to conduct practical demonstration of e-filing of revised sales tax return in the presence of ground realities and practical challenges being faced by the taxpayer in transmitting the same via FBR E-portal.
They said the FBR should make necessary amendments to the sales tax return e-filing programme, which enables taxpayer to e-file returns under objection to 7ensure that all registered persons file their returns in time. They also stressed the need for establishing separate counters to address problems related to e-filing process, saying that FBR should establish separate counter at all field offices for taxpayers’ facilitation.
When contacted, Riffat Shaheen Qazi, spokesperson of FBR admitted that sales tax return form has so far not been uploaded at FBR web portal. She said that sales tax return form was revised and would be uploaded on FBR website after being vetted by law division. Answering to a question, she said, “it is premature to say anything regarding the extension in sales tax return submission date but the form was revised and presently was being reviewed by law division”.
” 
” 
” 
” 
