The Federal Board of Revenue is considering a 15-day extension for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026 after business groups and tax professionals requested additional time to complete the process.
Around 5.2 million income tax returns had been submitted by Wednesday, including nearly 1.3 million returns from new taxpayers. The figure is significantly higher than the roughly 3.2 million returns filed during the same period last year.
The current deadline expires on September 30. However, the FBR has not yet formally announced an extension and is reviewing requests submitted by trade organisations and tax bar associations.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Pakistan Tax Bar Association have separately called for more time, citing difficulties faced by taxpayers in completing returns and arranging the required supporting documents.
Business representatives have also approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking an extension of the filing deadline.
The government is seeking to expand the country’s tax base and increase participation in the formal tax system. The addition of around 1.3 million new filers indicates a substantial rise in the number of taxpayers entering the return-filing system this year.
Officials said the final decision on the proposed extension will be announced by the government and the FBR.
Until an official notification is issued, taxpayers remain required to submit their returns by the existing September 30 deadline.
