Written by Hamza Shahnawaz in Taxation Atif Ikram Sheikh cites IRIS system issues, tax-law complexities and pressure on businesses as reasons for extending the deadline to October 31. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has urged the federal government and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns by one month to October 31, 2026, citing technical problems with the IRIS system and difficulties faced by taxpayers. FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said the extension was necessary to facilitate businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), tax practitioners and individual taxpayers ahead of the September 30 deadline. He said the request was not intended as a concession but as a practical measure to improve tax compliance, broaden the tax base and reduce pressure on taxpayers facing difficulties in completing their filings. According to FPCCI, the FBR’s IRIS portal has experienced slowdowns, glitches and periods of unavailability because of heavy traffic as the filing deadline approaches. These disruptions have made it difficult for taxpayers and tax practitioners to submit income tax returns and wealth statements within the existing timeframe. IRIS System Creates Filing Challenges Sheikh said tax lawyers, chartered accountants and business owners were facing difficulties because of system congestion, particularly during peak hours. He argued that taxpayers should not face penalties because of technical limitations in the tax administration system. FPCCI said an additional month would provide taxpayers…