FBR may extend tax deadline by 15 days

According to Mettis Global, the Federal Board of Revenue may push back the filing date for Tax Year 2026 income tax returns by 15 days. The move follows requests from business groups and tax professionals who want more time for taxpayers to finish their paperwork. By Wednesday, roughly 5.2 million returns had reached the department, including about 1.3 million from people filing for the first time.

The tally compares with about 3.2 million returns in the same window last year, a sign of a sharp jump in filings as the cutoff nears. However, the FBR has not yet issued a formal notification, and the proposal is still being weighed after representations from commercial and professional bodies. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Pakistan Tax Bar Association have both called for more time, while trade bodies have also approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The current deadline is September 30, and taxpayers remain bound by it until a formal notice is issued. The push for relief comes as the authority looks to widen the tax base and draw additional individuals and enterprises into the system. Officials added that the government and FBR will reach a final call on the plan.