Latest news with #LTBA
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Biometric verification of registered persons: LTBA urges FBR, Nadra to bring in secure mobile app
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) should jointly implement a secure mobile application for biometric verification of sales tax registered persons. According to a letter of the Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) to the FBR Chairman, the association highlighted major challenges faced by certain sales taxpayers under the current biometric verification system and proposed a digital solution aligned with FBR's commitment to facilitation and innovation. Presently, biometric verification for sales tax registration and annually bio metric which required in terms of SRO 350(1)/2024 is conducted exclusively through Nadra's physical infrastructure. While this may suffice for most residents, it poses considerable challenges for the following categories of taxpayers: (I); Individuals temporarily residing or travelling abroad. (2); Taxpayers located in remote or underdeveloped areas. (3); Elderly or physically challenged individuals who cannot easily access the Nadra facilities. Due to the unavailability of a remote verification mechanism, these taxpayers are unable to complete their sales tax registration and annually biometric which required in tarns of SRO 350(1)/2024 dated 07.03.2025, despite their willingness to comply with legal requirements. This creates unnecessary delays, hampers business operations, filing of sales tax returns and discourages potential entrants into the tax system. Key challenges included no Remote Option for Overseas Taxpayers and delays in Registration Activation and filing of sales tax returns. He LTBA proposed the FBR should consider in coordination with Nadra, the development and deployment of a secure mobile application for biometric verification. This solution may include facial recognition or fingerprint scanning wing smartphone technology and secure integration between the FBR and the Nadra. The expected benefits included enhanced taxpayer's facilitation particularly for overseas Pakistanis and remote areas residents, improved compliance rate with quicker registration and fewer delays; expanded lax base and alignment with FBR's digital transformation and automation goals. The association is confident that this initiative would greatly enhance the accessibility, efficiency, compliance and Inclusivity of FBR's taxpayers' registration system and ease filing of sales tax returns and enhance the revenue collection, it added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
LTBA asks FBR to expedite final tax return notification
LAHORE: President of the Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) Muhammad Asif Rana has called on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to immediately notify the final income tax return for Tax Year 2025 and resolve ongoing technical glitches in the IRIS e-filing system to ensure smooth and timely compliance. In a letter to the FBR chairman, Rana noted the tax body had published the draft income tax return through SRO 1212(I)/ 2025 on July 8, 2025, under Rule 34A of the Income Tax Rules, 2002, which requires the final return to be issued within 30 days. However, despite the expiry of the statutory period, the final return has yet to be released, creating uncertainty for taxpayers and practitioners ahead of the September 30 filing deadline. Rana warned that delays in issuing the return and persistent system errors could disrupt compliance, hinder revenue collection, and undermine public trust in tax administration. He highlighted key technical issues in the draft return, including IRIS's failure to open forms for non-residents, non-adjustment of tax withheld under Section 235 for associations of persons (AOPs), and inconsistent treatment of tax withheld under Sections 148 and 154. He said that when users select 'non-resident' in the system, based on their stay in Pakistan, the return form fails to open, preventing non-residents from filing. Additionally, system-generated errors are blocking proper credit for certain withholding taxes and causing unnecessary hardship for filers. The LTBA president stressed that prompt issuance of the final return and immediate rectification of technical issues were essential for maintaining taxpayer confidence and facilitating compliance. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
