What readers need to know
Draft FBR IRIS filing rules would answer a practical question for companies: from tax year 2026, accounts lodged with an income-tax return would have to reach IRIS — the Federal Board of Revenue’s online return system — only as machine-readable files the portal can check automatically. The Board floated the plan in statutory notice SRO 1912(I)/2026 on Tuesday.
IRIS is FBR’s web gateway for returns and related papers. The draft does not create a new tax; it tightens how company accounts travel with the return.
What the draft inserts into the rules
The notice would place a fresh sub-rule (2F) inside Rule 73 of the Income Tax Rules, 2002. Accounts sent with a company return would need to match the layout described under clause (19DA) of Section 2, and to follow the Board’s published data map — taxonomy, field layout, validation checks and related tech specs — on IRIS or the linked website.
FBR could issue separate maps for different company classes, keyed to whichever financial reporting framework those firms already use. That is meant to keep listed, private and other groups from forcing one template onto every balance-sheet style.
Sign-off, receipt and the comment clock
A rewritten sub-rule (3) of the same Rule 73 would make the responsible person — or an allowed e-intermediary — confirm every return, statement, account pack, certificate, application or other IRIS document with a digital signature or another secure method tied to registered login details the Board names.
After a clean upload passes system checks, IRIS would issue an electronic receipt with a unique reference. That receipt would stand as proof of e-filing under the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. The draft rests on Section 237(1) read with Section 114(2A) of that Ordinance.
Anyone affected may send objections or suggestions within seven days of Gazette publication. The Board says it will weigh those replies before locking FBR IRIS filing into final form.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Tuesday: FBR issued SRO 1912(I)/2026 proposing IRIS changes for company accounts.
- Within seven days of Gazette publication: window for objections and suggestions from affected persons.
- Tax year 2026 onwards: proposed start for machine-readable company accounts with returns on IRIS.
Aasan alfaaz mein
FBR ne companies ke liye draft rule diya hai. Tax year 2026 se company ke accounts IRIS par aise format mein dene honge jo system khud parh sake. Sahi upload ke baad portal ek reference number dega jo filing ka proof hoga. Gazette ke baad saat din tak log etiraz ya mashwara bhej sakte hain.
