Every year, the FBR discovers that the deadline (August 31) it has set for filing income tax returns proves over-optimistic, and then that deadline is moved forward. Yet the FBR refuses to learn a lesson. Even in a highly organised society like the UK, the tax filing date is 90 days after the end of the year ie March 31, not 60 days after the official year end.
While the woes of the business and commercial sectors are enormous in the context of assembling proofs of income and taxes deducted there from by their suppliers, even the salaried individuals face too many problems. Employers don't issue certificates of salary payments and tax deductions even by mid-August, and it has not been made mandatory for banks to issue certificates of the closing account balances, profit paid during the year, and the tax deducted there from; unless customers ask for these certificates, they are not issued.
In effect, things begin to happen only after mid-August. This year, because the better part of August coincided with Ramada, things began happening only after people returned to their offices after the long Eid holidays. Given this backdrop, it is highly unlikely that the majority of even the salaried individuals will be able to file their tax returns by August 31.
Yet, the FBR did not find it appropriate to voluntarily shift the deadline for filing tax returns to at least September 15. Only after the frustrated taxpayers beg for it will the FBR act. Is that how FBR expects to convey a taxpayer friendly image? Had the FBR extended the deadline voluntarily, it would have conveyed at least a sympathetic impression. Pitifully, it opted against it.
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