Adeel Hassan 
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan has declared that it is mandatory for all taxpayers to file their Income Tax Return in Pakistan, along with withholding statements, through the electronic filing system.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how you should register and file your income tax return online in Pakistan if you are new to filing or if you are already an existing filer.
FBR Registration Requirements
To file your income tax return in Pakistan, you first have to be registered with the FBR in the form of having an NTN number as well as an online portal of the FBR.
Required Documents
The documents needed for registration are:
- A valid CNIC
- Passport copy (if you are a foreign citizen)
- Address proof, in the form of an electricity bill or a bank statement
Once you have successfully registered yourself, you will be provided with all the credentials to access the portal of FBR.
Procedure to Submit Your Income Tax Return
In order to submit your return once you create an account, you need to submit your income tax return through the FBR Iris Portal.
Login to FBR Iris Portal
Enter the website using the username and password that you have been provided with after registration.
Begin Filing Your Tax Return
Go to the Declaration tab → Income Tax Return and choose your tax year for filing.
Enter Your Income Details
You will have to fill out the required fields by entering personal and financial information about yourself. As the new e-return is automatic, it will retrieve all those details that are linked with your CNIC, such as salary details, withholding taxes, bank account, and many other tax deductions.
Enter Your Wealth Statement
Next, go to Statements → Wealth Statement to enter the details of your wealth statements.
Special Requirements for Overseas Pakistanis
Overseas Pakistanis have other reporting requirements as well. Individuals with foreign income or foreign assets have to submit an Electronic Foreign Income and Assets Declaration.
Some information included in the declaration is:
- Overseas income from business
- Foreign bank accounts
- Foreign investments
- Rental income from foreign properties
Making these declarations will help one comply with the Pakistani tax regulations.
Conclusion
Since electronic filing of taxes is made mandatory by the FBR, one has to file the income tax returns of Pakistan through the official website. Document preparation, obtaining NTN, and proper filling of all sections in the return form can make the whole procedure easy for the taxpayer.
