Farooq Sattar calls for more provinces in Pakistan

  Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new mechanism to speed up sales tax registration for low-risk applicants, allowing eligible and complete applications to be processed within three working days. The measure was announced through Sales Tax General Order No. 20 of 2026, issued by the Revenue Division on August 24, 2026. The order is aimed at making the registration process faster, more transparent and business-friendly while retaining safeguards against fraudulent or suspicious registrations. Under the new system, applications submitted through the FBR’s IRIS system will be assessed according to risk-based parameters. Applicants classified as low-risk through the computerized system will receive priority treatment, provided their applications contain all required information and documents. According to the order, the relevant Local Registration Office (LRO) will be required to complete the registration process for eligible low-risk applicants within three working days. Officials have been directed to avoid unnecessary delays in processing such applications. The FBR has also restricted registration offices from seeking additional documents from low-risk applicants unless those documents are specifically required under the Sales Tax Act, 1990, the Sales Tax Rules, 2006, or are demanded by the computerized risk-management system. Another major feature of the new procedure is the introduction of pre-registration certification for manufacturers. Sector-specific trade associations operating under the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) will be able to certify the credentials of their member applicants before registration. The certification will cover key details including the applicant’s manufacturing activity, business premises and membership of the relevant trade association. However, the FBR has clarified that such certification is intended only as a facilitation measure and will not replace any legal or statutory requirement for sales tax registration. The new order also establishes clearer procedures for dealing with incomplete applications. If an application does not meet the required conditions, the applicant must be informed within seven days and provided with specific reasons for the objection. The FBR has prohibited registration officials from raising vague or generalized objections. This requirement is intended to provide applicants with greater clarity about deficiencies in their applications and allow them to address issues without unnecessary delays. For manufacturers, the order requires concerned LROs to conduct pre-physical verification under Rule 5(3) of the Sales Tax Rules, 2006 within three working days. Applications considered high-risk or suspicious, however, will remain subject to enhanced scrutiny and additional verification. The FBR said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to facilitate businesses, reduce administrative delays and encourage genuine manufacturers to enter the formal tax system. By involving recognized trade bodies in the initial verification process, the tax authority hopes to make better use of industry-level information while retaining the final decision-making authority with the relevant tax offices. The General Order has been circulated among all Chief Commissioners Inland Revenue, Commissioners, the Director General of IT and PRAL for immediate implementation. The FBR has also emphasized that classification as a low-risk applicant does not provide permanent immunity from scrutiny. If false information, misrepresentation or fraudulent documentation is discovered at a later stage, the applicant may still face subsequent verification and action under the applicable law. The new framework is therefore designed to combine faster registration for legitimate businesses with continued monitoring of applicants who may pose tax or compliance risks.