FBR adds four validation cycles for pending sales tax refund

New rules allow four additional weekly system checks after initial eight validation cycles; amounts still uncleared or unverified will be processed through STARR module The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revised its sales tax refund process by introducing four additional validation cycles aimed at expediting the clearance of deferred or pending refund claims of exporters. The tax authority issued SRO 1498(I)/2026 on Friday, making further amendments to the Sales Tax Rules, 2006. Under the revised mechanism, refund amounts that remain uncleared or unverified after eight validation checks, including the initial check, will be subjected to four additional validation cycles by the system. These additional checks will be conducted once every week for the portion of a refund claim that remains uncleared or unverified, according to the notification. If any amount remains unresolved after all four additional validation cycles have been completed, it will subsequently be processed under the STARR module. A tax expert said the additional checks were intended to facilitate exporters by giving pending claims further opportunities to clear the system's validation requirements before being transferred to the STARR process. He added that the FBR had introduced the changes in consultation with exporters.