Income tax returns, wealth statements: PM urged to extend deadline

Business Recorder reported that tax practitioners want Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to push the Tax Year 2026 filing date for returns and wealth statements beyond September 30, with November 30 proposed as the new cutoff. The appeal arrived in a letter from Javed Iqbal Qazi, chairman of the Pakistan Tax Advisers Association, with copies sent to the Finance Minister and the FBR chairman. Their reasons included a sluggish IRIS portal, load-shedding, tight finances and a heavy workload for filers and advisers alike.

The letter argues that the current September 30, 2026 cutoff cannot be met under present conditions, and that the number of returns targeted would not be reached in time. It says that returns handled through practitioners are numerous, and that each filing needs preparation, tax payment at banks and then submission on IRIS. The letter also notes that a manual return option for low-income taxpayers has still not been uploaded to IRIS, while recent unrest in major cities has disrupted work.

Qazi argued that an extension would ease the burden on taxpayers and professionals and help the FBR reach its financial targets. The practitioners also pointed to appeals from their members nationwide, which they called a genuine public demand. The report does not mention any government response, so the existing deadline of September 30 still applies.