Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is expected to extend the deadline for the integration of registered persons’ invoicing systems with its digital sales tax platform, following repeated requests from the business community.
According to sources, the extension may be limited to 15 to 30 days, despite calls from trade bodies for a three-month relief. The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the FBR to provide businesses more time to complete the transition, citing delays caused by the large number of taxpayers attempting to register within a short period.
KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, in a letter to the FBR, stressed that the delay was not due to unwillingness but because of capacity constraints. He also proposed the creation of facilitation desks at trade associations and an online helpdesk managed by FBR officials through Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) to guide businesses free of cost.
Under SRO 1413(I)/2025, public companies, importers, and firms with an annual turnover exceeding Rs1 billion were required to integrate by September 1, 2025. From that date, FBR field offices were legally empowered to issue penalties of Rs500,000 under Section 25A of the Sales Tax Act 1990 to non-compliant businesses.
While large firms are considered capable of meeting the requirement, many small and seasonal importers have sought leniency, arguing that immediate enforcement would create undue hardship. Business leaders maintain that an extension would encourage smoother compliance and avoid disruption.
The FBR is reviewing the matter and is likely to announce a revised deadline soon.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
