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  Sales Tax Return Experts

Monthly Sales Tax Return Filing — Never Miss the 18th

TL;DR

Sales tax registration (STRN) is mandatory when annual turnover exceeds Rs. 10 million. File monthly return by 15th of next month. Kamboh Associates handles STRN registration and monthly filing.

STRN-registered businesses must file monthly sales tax returns by the 18th. Late filing means Rs. 10,000 fine + 1.5% monthly surcharge. We file on time, every month — guaranteed.

800+
Monthly Returns Filed
18th
Monthly Deadline
Rs. 0
Missed Deadlines
2008
Est. Since

Complete Sales Tax Return Service

From output tax calculation to input tax reconciliation and FBR POS reporting — we handle your complete monthly sales tax compliance so you can focus on business.

Monthly Return Filing

Sales tax return filed on FBR IRIS by 18th each month. Output vs input tax calculated accurately for minimum tax liability.

Input Tax Reconciliation

All input tax claims cross-checked with FBR purchase data. Maximum legitimate input tax claimed to reduce liability.

FBR POS Reporting

FBR-integrated POS businesses get daily invoice reporting and monthly return filed in compliance with POS system.

Manufacturer Returns

Special returns for manufacturers including Section 8B restrictions and minimum 60% input tax claim management.

Nil Return Filing

Even with no sales, a nil return must be filed. We include nil return filing in every monthly package — no extra charge.

Export Refund Claims

Zero-rated export refund claims filed on FBR with all supporting documents for fast-track refund processing.

What Is Sales Tax in Pakistan — And Who Must File?

Sales tax in Pakistan is governed by the Sales Tax Act 1990 under Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). It is a value-added tax (VAT) levied at 17% on the supply of taxable goods and on imports. Businesses registered under STRN (Sales Tax Registration Number) must collect output tax from customers and pay net tax (output minus input) to FBR every month.

Sales Tax Rates 2026 — Quick Reference

CategoryRate
Standard rate (goods)17%
Petroleum products18%
Mobile phones (imported)17–25%
IT & software exports0% (zero-rated)
Basic food items (selected)0–10%
Punjab PRMA services tax16%

Rates are indicative — verify against Finance Act 2025-26 gazette for your specific category.

Who Needs Sales Tax Registration (STRN)?

  • Manufacturers or processors of taxable goods (regardless of turnover)
  • Importers of taxable goods (mandatory at point of import)
  • Traders with annual turnover exceeding Rs. 10 million
  • Exporters of goods (to claim zero-rating and refunds)
  • FBR POS-integrated retailers (restaurants, fashion brands, electronics)
  • Businesses supplying to registered buyers who require your STRN for their input claims

Types of Sales Tax Returns in Pakistan

Standard Return

For most STRN-registered businesses. Requires Annex-A (purchases), Annex-C (supplies), Annex-H (debit/credit notes) submitted by 18th monthly.

Simplified Return

For small retailers not required to maintain detailed records. Lower documentation requirements but still filed monthly on IRIS.

Annual Return

Filed in addition to monthly returns. Summary of the full fiscal year's supplies, purchases, and tax liability — due within 2 months of tax year end.

Nil Return

Filed when there are no taxable supplies in a month. Still mandatory — failure to file a nil return attracts the same Rs. 10,000 penalty as any other late return.

Penalties for Sales Tax Non-Compliance

Rs. 10,000
Per month for late/non-filing of monthly return
1.5%/month
Default surcharge on outstanding tax balance
100% tax
Penalty for issuing fake invoices or claiming false input tax
STRN Block
FBR blocks STRN after 2 months of continuous non-filing

Monthly Filing Process

1

Share Monthly Data

Send us your monthly sales invoices and purchase invoices. We extract output and input tax data automatically.

2

Reconciliation

Output tax vs input tax reconciled. FBR purchase ledger cross-checked to validate all input claims.

3

Filed by 18th

Sales tax return filed before the 18th. Tax challan prepared and payment deposited with acknowledgment sent to you.

Sales Tax Return Charges

Small Trader

Rs. 2,500
per month
  • Up to 50 invoices/month
  • Input tax reconciliation
  • Monthly return filing
  • Nil return included
Get Started

Manufacturer/Exporter

Rs. 10,000
per month
  • Complex returns
  • Export refund claims
  • Section 8B compliance
  • Provincial tax coordination
Get Started

Sales Tax Return FAQ

What is the monthly sales tax return deadline?
The monthly sales tax return must be filed by the 18th of the following month. For example, January return must be filed by February 18. Late filing attracts Rs. 10,000 fine plus 1.5% per month default surcharge on outstanding tax.
What if I have no sales this month?
You must still file a Nil return by the 18th. Failure to file even a nil return attracts the same Rs. 10,000 penalty. We include nil return filing in every monthly package at no extra charge.
Can I claim input tax on all purchases?
Input tax can only be claimed on purchases from STRN-registered suppliers with valid FBR invoices. Section 8B restricts input to 60% of output tax for some categories. We ensure maximum legitimate input is claimed.
What is the difference between federal sales tax and provincial sales tax?
Federal sales tax (GST/FED) at 17% applies to goods and is administered by FBR. Provincial sales tax on services is administered by provincial bodies — Punjab Revenue Management Authority (PRMA) at 16%, Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) at 13%, KPK Revenue Authority (KPKRA) at 15%, and Balochistan Revenue Authority (BRA) at 15%. If your business provides services, you may need to register with the relevant provincial authority in addition to or instead of FBR.
How is sales tax return filed on FBR IRIS?
Log in to iris.fbr.gov.pk using your STRN credentials. Navigate to Sales Tax > Returns. Upload Annex-A (purchase data) and Annex-C (supply data). The system automatically calculates net tax payable. Generate a PSID (Payment Slip ID) and pay through any bank branch or mobile banking. Submit the return before the 18th. Kamboh Associates handles this entire process — you only need to share your monthly invoice data.
Can a business with no GST registration issue tax invoices?
No. Only STRN-registered businesses can issue sales tax invoices. Buyers cannot claim input tax on purchases from unregistered suppliers. This is one of the key reasons businesses voluntarily register even below the Rs. 10 million threshold — their corporate buyers often require STRN-registered invoices to claim their own input tax.
What documents are needed for sales tax return filing?
You need: all sales invoices (output supplies) for the month, all purchase invoices from STRN-registered suppliers (for input tax claims), bank statements for verification, and any debit/credit notes issued or received. For FBR POS-integrated businesses, the POS system generates most of this data automatically. Kamboh Associates requests a simple Excel or WhatsApp-shared summary and handles all the IRIS portal work.

5 Sales Tax Mistakes That Get Businesses Penalised

After filing 800+ monthly returns since 2008, these are the mistakes we fix most often for new clients who come to us after a penalty notice.

1
Claiming input tax from unregistered suppliers.

Input tax is only claimable from STRN-registered suppliers. Many businesses accidentally claim input on invoices from unregistered vendors — FBR's system cross-checks every input claim against the supplier's STRN status. This triggers assessments and recovery notices.

2
Missing the 18th deadline — even by one day.

The Rs. 10,000 penalty applies even if you file on the 19th. With Kamboh Associates, your return is filed by the 15th — three days before the deadline — so a bank holiday or IRIS downtime never causes a penalty.

3
Skipping nil returns during slow months.

If a business has no sales in a month, many owners assume there is nothing to file. Wrong — a nil return is still required. Two consecutive missed nil returns triggers STRN suspension, blocking all your clients from claiming input tax on past purchases from you.

4
Not filing an annual return at year-end.

Monthly returns are not a substitute for the annual sales tax return. The annual return must be filed within 2 months of the financial year end (i.e., by August 31 for the July–June fiscal year). This is one of the most commonly missed obligations by self-filing businesses.

5
Exceeding Section 8B input tax limits for manufacturers.

Manufacturers and some service providers are restricted to claiming input tax up to 90% of their output tax (Section 8B, Sales Tax Act). Exceeding this in a return results in automatic disallowance and a recovery notice. We apply this limit correctly every month.

Never Miss the 18th Deadline Again

We file your sales tax return every month before the deadline. Zero penalties, zero stress, full compliance.