An efficient halogenation of electron-deficient (hetero)arenes is described. The reaction utilizes common t-BuONa as a catalyst (for iodination) or a promoter (for bromination and chlorination), and perfluorobutyl iodide, CBr₄ or CCl₄ as the readily-available halogenating agents, respectively. The protocol features broad scope, high efficiency, mild conditions and gram scalability. An ionic pathway involving halogen bond formation and halophilic attack is proposed. The utility of the resulting iodinated heteroarenes is demonstrated in visible light-mediated C_aryl–C_aryl cross-coupling reaction.