Business & Finance Print edition: 2026-03-17

Single Return with PRAs

Published March 17, 2026 Updated March 17, 2026 05:57am

3 min

By Sohail Sarfraz

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ISLAMABAD: Provincial tax authorities have urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) not to further implement/extend the Single Portal/Single Return between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Provincial Revenue Authorities (PRAs) till existing issues in telecom and other sectors are resolved.

Sources told Business Recorder that pursuant to the signing of an MoU on the Single Portal between the FBR and the Provincial Revenue Authorities (PRAs) on April 7, 2021, the Single Portal/Single Return was initially rolled out for one single sector, i.e., the telecommunication sector, and was planned to be gradually extended to some other sectors. However, various issues emerged during the implementation of the system between the FBR and the provinces.

(i) Telecom sector: The Single Portal/Single Return system was rolled out by the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) in the telecom sector (telecommunication services of Cellular Mobile Operators) in February 2024, following the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) conducted on 14th & 15th February, 2024 with PRAs. Since the implementation of the system in this sector, several operational and technical issues have emerged, some of which are still pending for resolution, e.g., missing return data, misalignment with budgetary changes, disallowed input tax adjustments, and a lack of facility for revision of return.

(ii) Exploration & Production (E&P) Sector and Microfinance Banking Sector: Despite the non-resolution of certain pending issues in the telecom sector, the Single Portal/Single Return was subsequently extended to the Exploration and Production (E&P) and Microfinance Banking sectors from November 2024. However, certain implementation-related issues pertaining to this sector are also currently under discussion between PRAs and FBR/Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL).

(iii) Banking and Insurance Sector: In 2025, it was decided that the Single Portal/ Single Return would be extended to the banking and insurance sector, subject to completion of orientation sessions and UAT. The SRB conducted an orientation session with representatives of the banking and insurance sector on 23 January 2025.

The UAT for the banking sector was conducted on 19.02.2026. The matter is presently being deliberated with the FBR/PRAL, particularly with respect to the mechanism for collection through banks (in their capacity as collection agents). It is expected that the complete rollout in the banking sector will be done by June, 2026.

Under the plan, the insurance sector will be provided with UAT ahead of the implementation of the Single Portal in this sector.

After successful implementation in the above-mentioned sectors, the system will be gradually extended to a few other service sectors.

The Balochistan Revenue Authority (BRA) has asked the FBR to establish a requisite, secure, and confidential channel for the electronic exchange of tax-related information.

In December 2024, the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) extended the scope of its Single Sales Tax Return to the Oil & Gas sector and the Microfinance Banking sector.

The provincial authorities are of the view that further implementation/extension should not be rolled out until existing issues are resolved, sources added.

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