ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reportedly marked manual income tax return filers for Tax Year 2024 as “inactive,” drawing criticism from tax experts and legal professionals.
According to experts, the move contravenes both the Federal Tax Ombudsman’s (FTO) binding directions and FBR Circular No. 6 of 2025-26, which explicitly recognized the legal status of manual filers and extended the filing deadline to November 30, 2025, under Section 214A. The circular also required FBR field offices to provide free legal and technical support, including lawyer services.
Tax lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt termed the FBR’s action as “deliberate, malafide, and contemptuous,” stating it reflects institutional defiance of law rather than mere confusion or technical error. He added that despite repeated representations, FBR officials allegedly ignored the directives and blocked the filer status, effectively penalizing taxpayers who complied with legal requirements.
The controversy has reignited calls for stricter oversight of FBR’s enforcement practices and adherence to taxpayer rights.
