Filing your income tax return can feel confusing, especially with FBR’s new auto-updated system. While many details now appear automatically, it’s still important to review everything carefully to avoid mistakes, notices, or penalties. This simple, step-by-step checklist will help you verify your information, correct errors, and submit a clean, accurate tax return with confidence.
Step 1: Verify Your Personal Details
Before checking income, first make sure your personal profile is correct in IRIS:
- Full Name
- CNIC number
- NTN
- Address
- Email & mobile number
- Bank account(s) showing correctly
If anything is wrong, update it before moving forward.
Step 2: Confirm Your Salary Income
Even if FBR auto-fills salary details, always cross-check:
- Compare the auto-filled salary with your salary slips
- Match annual figures with the Employer’s Annual Certificate (Annexure)
- Ensure all months (especially June) are included
- Verify tax deducted monthly is correct
If your employer deposited tax late, your auto data may be wrong — correct it manually.
Step 3: Check Telecom Taxes (Mobile Tax)
Mobile tax appears only if your SIM is under your CNIC.
Check:
- Total telecom tax deducted
- Multiple SIMs (if registered under your CNIC)
- Whether auto-filled entries match your usage
If your SIM is not in your name, these taxes won’t show. You must leave them blank.
Step 4: Review Profit on Bank Deposits (Profit on Debt)
Banks now send interest income details to FBR.
Verify:
- Profit/interest earned from all bank accounts
- Withholding tax deducted
- Compare with the Profit on Debt Certificate from your bank
If a bank has not updated data yet, manually enter the correct amount.
Step 5: Validate Bank Accounts & Balances (Assets)
For Simplified Returns:
- Make sure every bank account (IBAN) is listed
- Check closing balances as of 30 June
- Correct any missing or inaccurate values
Step 6: Review Property & Vehicle Details
If applicable:
- Add all properties you own
- Add vehicles registered under your CNIC
- Mention the acquisition year and cost
- Verify withholding taxes on buying/selling property
This is required for the Wealth Statement.
Step 7: Check Withholding Taxes from Other Sources. Verify auto-filled taxes on:
- Rent
- Services/contract payments
- Property sale/purchase
- Bank withdrawals (where applicable)
- Education-related taxes
- Capital gains, shares, or securities (if any)
Compare with the challans or receipts you have.
Step 8: Review Business or Freelancing Income (If Applicable)
For business individuals/freelancers:
- Verify monthly income
- Check the expenses you want to claim
- Enter the correct withholding taxes from clients
- Confirm CPR codes where needed
- Ensure tax credits and adjustments are correct
Step 9: Reconcile Tax Paid vs Tax Payable
This is important for avoiding penalties:
- Total tax deducted (withholding)
- Total tax payable for the year
- If tax payable is more → Generate CPR & pay remaining tax
- If refund appears → Confirm data is accurate
Make sure CPR codes are correctly selected.
Step 10: Ensure Wealth Statement Matches Your Return
FBR cross-matches income with assets. Check:
- Opening wealth vs closing wealth
- Bank balances
- Property valuation
- Vehicle valuation
- Cash in hand
- Personal household expenses
Everything should logically add up.
Step 11: Attach Necessary Documents
Keep the following documents ready (you don’t upload them, but keep them for your record):
- Salary slips
- Annual employer certificate
- Bank profit certificates
- Withholding tax challans
- Telecom usage & tax printout
- Property or vehicle records
- CPR payment receipts
These help if FBR asks for proof later.
Step 12: Final Review Before Submitting
Do a final check:
- No missing months
- No double entries
- No wrong CPR code
- Wealth matches income
- All auto-filled values are correct
- All manual corrections are accurate
After reviewing, click Submit.
Step 13: Download Your Filed Return
Once submitted:
- Download Acknowledgement
- Download Filed Return PDF
- Save CPR receipts for your record
This ensures you are covered if FBR audits you later.
Your Tax Return Is Now Ready & Accurate
Following this checklist ensures:
- No errors
- No notices
- No penalties
- A complete and clean tax filing
You may also like:
- How to Make a Gift Deed in Pakistan
- Business Tax Return Course
- Rate of Tax on Agriculture Income in Pakistan
- How to Register Your NTN on FBR with the New IRIS Method
