11/05/2026
*Some people are objecting to the “147-page return” uploaded on the FBR website for comments and claiming it is another effort to complicate compliance. This perception is quite misplaced & in this regard a few clarifications are necessary.*
*There is a legal requirement to upload images of all fields for all types of businesses & transactions.Such large number of pages is a usual annual feature & includes banking, insurance, mining, petroleum extraction returns, actuarial valuations & schedules of depleting assets.*
*This should not be construed as a complicated return because individual salaried and business persons are required to fill only 8 to 15 rows.*
*Moreover, early publication of the form has been necessitated by FBR’s intent to pre-fill returns as far as possible, so taxpayers will only be required to edit or certify the entries.*
*FBR also plans to pre-inform all taxpayers about the third-party data available to it, so they remain conscious of the need to file factual and accurate returns.*
*During filing, FBR is likely to nudge taxpayers on patently risky entries (unprecedented increase in certain expenses/gross under-declaration of turnover) based on gathered data. The entry will remain the taxpayer’s choice, but he/she will be made aware of the risk involved.*
*All these steps are based on data supported by AI designed to help taxpayers file their true returns. The return fields appearing on the screen will be easy & will have an Urdu option as well. Efforts are also underway to include regional languages to facilitate taxpayers.*
VoxLegis Law ✍️⚖️
