ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reported a sharp increase in income tax return filers this year (fiscal year 2025-26). However, FBR has noted 7 percent decline in payment of tax with returns.
By September 30, 2026, taxpayers had paid Rs 77.3 billion with their returns, compared with Rs 83.3 billion during the same period last year.
The number of returns filed reached 5.77 million, up from 3.98 million a year earlier. This represents an increase of nearly 1.79 million returns, while the total number has almost tripled over the past three years.
Non-salaried taxpayers accounted for most of the growth. Their returns increased 60 percent to 3.81 million, adding 1.43 million filers. Salaried individuals filed 1.9 million returns, representing a 22 percent increase.
However, around 39 percent of all returns were classified as nil returns, broadly matching last year’s proportion. Nearly 2.5 million returns declared income above the taxable threshold, marking a 37 percent increase.
Payment filers also increased 38 percent to 3.35 million. Among non-salaried individuals, payment filers rose around 50 percent to 1.75 million.
Tax paid by individuals increased 11 percent to Rs34.5 billion, while payments by associations of persons rose 16 percent to Rs3.7 billion.
Corporate filings moved in the opposite direction. Only 7,953 companies submitted returns by September 30, compared with 11,206 last year. Tax paid by companies also fell from Rs49 billion to Rs39.1 billion. The figures highlight the challenge of ensuring that increased filings translate into higher tax revenues.
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