The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)to restore taxpayers’ previous IRIS passwords. It says password changes have disrupted income tax return filing ahead of the September 30 deadline.
KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif raised the concerns in a September 28 statement, with only two days remaining before the deadline. He said taxpayers already struggling with heavy traffic on the online portal now faced an additional obstacle in regaining account access.
Hanif claimed that FBR had changed the passwords of all income tax return filers. He urged immediate action to allow taxpayers to access IRIS without interruption and complete their returns on time.
Overseas taxpayers face access problems
Hanif said the changes had created particular difficulties for people living abroad or travelling.
He estimated that at least 30 per cent of taxpayers who were overseas or travelling faced problems obtaining new passwords. The chamber’s statement did not explain the basis for that estimate.
According to Hanif, taxpayers abroad were not receiving the SMS messages needed to obtain new passwords, affecting their access to IRIS.
He said the password changes had made the filing process more complicated during the final days before the deadline. His immediate demand focused on restoring previous passwords so affected users could regain access.
The chamber circulated the statement through Additional Secretary General Aamir Hassan. It did not include an FBR response or explain why the authority had reportedly changed passwords.
Password recovery relies on registered contacts
FBR’s published guidance explains that taxpayers can reset their IRIS passwords through the login page’s recovery option.
The standard process sends verification codes to the taxpayer’s registered email address and mobile number. Users enter those codes before setting a new password.
IRIS also provides a separate account-recovery route for users who cannot access their registered mobile number or email address. That option involves updating a mobile number registered against the taxpayer’s CNIC.
These procedures help explain the importance of receiving verification messages. However, the guidance does not independently confirm the chamber’s claim of a universal password change.
Portal pressure adds to filing concerns
Hanif also reported unusual pressure on IRIS, saying system overload was causing serious difficulties for taxpayers attempting to submit returns.
His concerns come amid wider demands for more filing time. Tax associations and business bodies have cited technical glitches, delayed return forms and additional disclosure requirements in seeking an extension.
FBR’s published schedule sets September 30 as the normal filing deadline for individuals and associations of persons. Different deadlines apply to some companies.
For taxpayers completing returns, FBR’s guidance distinguishes a saved draft from a successful submission. It says the income tax return and wealth statement must move from the Draft folder to Completed Task.
KCCI’s appeal seeks urgent restoration of account access as taxpayers approach the deadline, alongside relief from the portal difficulties Hanif described.
