FBR extends tax return filing deadline to October 15

According to Business Recorder, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced on Wednesday that taxpayers now have until October 15 to file their returns for the 2026 tax year. The revised date gives filers two extra weeks beyond the original September 30 cutoff. The extension covers those who had to submit by that earlier date.

In a notification, the FBR said it acted under Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, following appeals from trade bodies and tax bar groups. The official notice came hours after a counterfeit circular promising an extension was shared online.

On Monday, Atif Ikram Sheikh, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), had asked the government and the FBR for a one-month extension to October 31, 2026. According to the body, that step would support trade, industry and other taxpayers while reducing strain on small and medium enterprises. The FPCCI argued that the change would also widen the tax base and improve compliance.