LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has ordered an inquiry into the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for allegedly failing to act on taxpayers’ requests for extensions in filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2025.
The directive follows a public interest complaint lodged by tax lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt, who highlighted that numerous taxpayers submitted online extension applications through FBR’s IRIS portal but received no response, creating widespread uncertainty as the filing deadline neared.
The FTO has summoned key officials — including the FBR Member Operations, Member IR-Policy, and the Director General (Information Technology) — to appear on November 19, 2025, and explain the apparent inaction.
Waheed Butt voiced strong concern, noting that many extension applications remain stuck in the IRIS system’s Outbox, calling the lack of action a violation of taxpayer rights and a clear case of maladministration.
The FTO’s move brings renewed focus to persistent gaps in tax administration, particularly the delays and technical inefficiencies that continue to hinder taxpayer compliance.
