National Board of Revenue (NBR) has launched a special drive to archive all taxpayer VAT returns within the e-VAT System.
To enable the uploading of all previously filed hard copy monthly VAT returns, a new “Hard Copy Return Entry” sub-module has been integrated into the online platform.
NBR issued an official circular on Monday detailing the operational guidelines for this new module. According to an NBR press release, the circular will allow taxpayers to personally input their past paper-based VAT returns into the e-VAT System.
Under the current procedure, manually submitted paper returns are data-entered into the e-VAT System by the Central Processing Centre (CPC) of the relevant VAT Commissionerates.
This involves VAT officials manually transcribing information from physical returns, a laborious and time-intensive process given the high volume of documents.
Frequently, delays in uploading these paper returns result in the system automatically imposing interest and financial penalties on taxpayers. Consequently, many are blocked from filing returns online, as the system restricts electronic submission until such penalties are cleared.
With the new “Hard Copy Return Entry” facility, taxpayers who filed their hard copy returns on time as per Section 64 of the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, can now directly enter those returns into the e-VAT System without incurring any penalty or interest charges.
Taxpayers will be able to access the new sub-module via a link sent directly to their registered email and mobile numbers.
The NBR has set a deadline of 31 March, 2026 for taxpayers to input all eligible past paper returns into the system without penalty. This initiative is expected to pave the way for seamless online VAT filing once all backlogged paper records are digitised.
The revenue board has appealed for the sincere cooperation of all taxpayers in this effort, which aims to digitise the entire tax administration framework and enhance transparency and accountability within the system.
