ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is likely to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026 by 15 days, as trade bodies and tax bar associations seek more time for taxpayers to complete compliance requirements.
Around 5.2 million income tax returns had been filed by Wednesday, including nearly 1.3m returns from new taxpayers, according to FBR officials.
The number compares with around 3.2m returns filed during the same period last year, highlighting a sharp increase in filing activity as the Sept. 30 deadline approaches.
The FBR has yet to formally notify an extension, with officials saying the proposal is under consideration following representations from business and professional bodies.
The existing deadline expires today, Sept. 30, for annual income tax returns for Tax Year 2026.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Pakistan Tax Bar Association have separately urged the government and FBR to extend the deadline, citing difficulties faced by taxpayers in completing returns and supporting documentation.
Trade bodies have also approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking additional time, according to FBR sources.
The demand comes as the tax authority pushes to broaden Pakistan’s narrow tax base and bring more individuals and businesses into the formal tax system. The addition of around 1.3m new filers represents a significant expansion in the number of taxpayers entering the return-filing system.
Officials said the final decision on the proposed extension will be communicated by the government and FBR.
Until a formal notification is issued, taxpayers remain subject to the Sept. 30 filing deadline.
