The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has ordered an investigation into the alleged failure of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to grant an extension for filing income tax returns for the tax year 2025.
According to sources, the order came in response to a public-interest complaint filed by a tax lawyer. The complaint stated that taxpayers had submitted online applications for an extension through FBR’s Iris portal, but no action was taken, leaving taxpayers in uncertainty as the deadline approached.
The Federal Ombudsman has summoned senior officials to appear today (19 November 2025) and explain the alleged negligence. Those summoned include FBR’s Member Operations, Member IR Policy, and the Director General (Information Technology).
Tax lawyer Waheed Butt expressed deep concern over the matter, stating that it is unfortunate that these applications are still lying in the outbox of the Iris system. He added that this lapse not only affects taxpayers’ rights but also violates judicial administrative protocols.
The intervention by the Federal Ombudsman indicates that longstanding issues in tax administration—particularly delays and system failures—are negatively affecting taxpayer compliance and their rights.
