A new update from the Federal Board of Revenue affects individuals who missed the October 31 income tax return deadline. Those who fail to file by this date typically face non-filer status and, under standard rules, must pay a penalty of Rs 25,000 to regain Active Taxpayer List (ATL) status.
However, the Finance Act, effective from July 1, contains a statutory provision, Section 182A, subsection (3), that permits eligible late filers to avoid this surcharge entirely by submitting a formal undertaking to the Commissioner.
In exchange for the waiver, the taxpayer must solemnly declare on a Rs 300 stamp paper that they will not purchase any immovable property for the next six months. This category includes residential houses, commercial buildings, or vacant plots of land. The declaration serves as a binding affidavit addressed directly to the tax authority.
If an individual acquires any immovable property within six months of submitting the undertaking, the affidavit becomes void from the date of purchase. Consequently, the Rs 25,000 surcharge becomes immediately payable and the ATL waiver is nullified.
The FBR has digitized the process through the Iris tax portal. A dedicated ATL-U tab appears on the taxpayer's dashboard. After drafting the undertaking on stamp paper and scanning it, the user uploads the document via the ATL-U interface. The submission routes electronically to the Commissioner for review and approval.
Once the Commissioner approves the undertaking, the system automatically updates the taxpayer's record, adding their name to the Active Taxpayer List without requiring the Rs 25,000 payment. This mechanism provides a legal pathway for new NTN holders and those with procedural delays to enjoy active filer benefits.
Taxpayers currently listed as non-filers due to the missed October 31 cutoff can use the Iris ATL-U feature to regularize their status lawfully and without the immediate financial burden, provided they adhere to the six-month immovable-property restriction.
Contact information
Name: Choudry Mujahid Yasin ( CMY )
Phone: +923224929992 Whatsapp Available