FBR Notice Reply — Tax Lawyers in Lahore, Pakistan
An FBR notice is a legal communication issued through the IRIS system under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 or Sales Tax Act 1990 — most commonly for non-filing (s.114(4)), amendment of assessment (s.122), calling for records (s.176), or audit (s.177 / 214C). Every notice carries a deadline, and ignoring it leads to best-judgment assessment, penalties, and recovery including bank account attachment. IMAAR Associates' tax lawyers — Lahore Tax Bar members (M-1842) with ICMAP-qualified accountants in-house — draft and file legally sound replies in IRIS and represent you before FBR.
- Lahore Tax Bar M-1842
- ICMAP CoP F-2092
- Attorney of the High Court
- 16+ Years
- Same-Day Review
Why You Must Never Ignore an FBR Notice
FBR notices are served electronically in IRIS and by post, and are legally deemed served. If you do not respond by the deadline, the officer may pass an ex parte / best-judgment assessment based on FBR's own data — bank information, withholding statements, property records — which is almost always far higher than your real liability. That assessment then becomes a recoverable demand: default surcharge accrues, penalties are imposed, and recovery under Sections 138/140 can reach your bank accounts directly. A timely, well-drafted reply is dramatically cheaper than unwinding a bad assessment in appeal.
Fake "FBR" calls and emails are common. We verify every notice on FBR's official portal before drafting — you can also check it yourself at e.fbr.gov.pk (FBR Notice Verification). FBR never demands payment through personal accounts, calls, or WhatsApp.
Common FBR Notices We Handle
| Notice | Provision | What it means | Typical deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return not filed | s.114(4) ITO 2001 | File your income tax return for the stated year(s) | Per notice (often 15–30 days) |
| Amendment of assessment | s.122(5)/(5A), show-cause 122(9) | FBR intends to amend / raise your assessed income | Per notice |
| Notice to obtain information | s.176 | Produce records, bank statements, documents | Per notice |
| Audit | s.177 / s.214C | Your case selected for audit of income tax affairs | Per notice |
| Best-judgment context | s.120 / s.121 | Assessment where no or invalid return filed | — |
| Withholding monitoring | s.161 / 205 | Alleged failure to deduct or deposit withholding tax | Per notice |
| Sales tax show-cause | s.11 STA 1990 | Alleged short payment / inadmissible input tax | Per notice |
| Foreign assets / remittances | s.116 / 116A context | Explain foreign income, assets, or remittances | Per notice |
We also handle CREST discrepancies, ATL / non-filer consequences, and PRA services-tax notices.
How We Reply to Your FBR Notice — 5 Steps
- Same-day review. Send the notice PDF or IRIS screenshot on WhatsApp. We verify authenticity, identify the provision, and calendar the deadline.
- Record building. Our accountants reconcile your bank statements, withholding certificates and declarations against FBR's data — the gap analysis that decides the case.
- Legal drafting. A lawyer drafts the reply on merits and law: jurisdictional objections, limitation, definite-information requirements for s.122(5), supporting case law where needed.
- Filing in IRIS & hearing. We file within the deadline and appear before the officer.
- Appeal strategy. Adverse orders are challenged before the Commissioner (Appeals) and the Appellate Tribunal within limitation — with stay applications against recovery where exposure is high. See our tax litigation services.
Why IMAAR Is Different for Tax Notices
Most tax "consultants" are accountants without a law license; most lawyers don't have accountants. IMAAR has both under one roof: Lahore Tax Bar licensed practitioners (M-1842), an ICMAP cost & management accountant (CoP F-2092), and an Attorney of the High Court — so the numbers and the law in your reply never contradict each other. We have handled FBR matters for salaried individuals, freelancers and IT exporters, traders, and companies for 16+ years, from first notice through Tribunal and High Court reference.
Fees & Timeline
Reply drafting and filing is quoted as a fixed written fee after we see the notice — depending on the provision, number of tax years, and record condition. The first consultation call and notice review are free. Replies are filed within the statutory deadline; where the deadline is imminent, we seek adjournment on the same day you engage us. Need routine filing instead? See our Tax Consultants division.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I ignore an FBR notice?
How do I check if an FBR notice is genuine?
Can the deadline in an FBR notice be extended?
I'm a non-filer and got a 114(4) notice for several years. What now?
Can you handle my FBR notice if I live abroad?
What does an FBR notice reply cost in Lahore?
Deadline Running? Send Your Notice Now for a Free Same-Day Review
Serving all of Pakistan through IRIS — from our Gulberg III, Lahore office.
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Content reviewed by IMAAR's licensed tax practitioners (Lahore Tax Bar M-1842) and Abdur Rehman Sandhu, Attorney of the High Court. Last reviewed: July 2026. General information, not advice on your specific notice.