The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026 by 15 days.
The decision comes after trade bodies and tax bar associations requested additional time for taxpayers to complete their returns and supporting documentation.
According to FBR officials, around 5.2 million income tax returns had been filed by Wednesday. Nearly 1.3 million of these returns came from new taxpayers, indicating a significant rise in filing activity.
The figure is considerably higher than the roughly 3.2 million returns filed during the same period last year. As a result, the latest extension provides taxpayers additional time to meet their annual compliance requirements.
Tax Bodies Seek More Time For Filing
The original deadline for filing Tax Year 2026 returns was September 30. However, the FBR has now extended the deadline by 15 days through an official notification.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Pakistan Tax Bar Association had separately urged the government to extend the deadline. Both bodies cited difficulties faced by taxpayers in completing returns and arranging the required documentation.
Trade representatives also approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to seek additional time, according to FBR sources.
New Filers Boost Tax Compliance
The extension comes as the FBR continues efforts to expand Pakistan’s tax base and increase participation in the formal tax system.
The addition of nearly 1.3 million new filers has contributed significantly to the higher number of returns this year. The FBR expects taxpayers to use the extended period to complete their filings and meet the revised deadline.
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