FBR Extends Tax Return Deadline to October 15, 2026

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has given taxpayers 15 more days to file their income tax returns. The last date for tax year 2026 is now October 15, 2026 instead of September 30. The official notice came late on Wednesday, September 30, only a few hours before the old deadline was due to end at midnight.

The extension covers salaried people, business owners, other individuals and associations of persons (AOPs) who had to file by September 30. FBR used its power under Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, which allows the Board to give more time to a whole group of taxpayers at once. It said the decision was taken after requests from trade bodies and tax bar associations.

A confusing day for taxpayers

Wednesday was full of mixed messages. In the afternoon, a circular claiming an extension to October 15 spread quickly on social media and WhatsApp. FBR's spokesperson called it fake on X and said September 30 was still the last date. Just three days earlier, on September 27, FBR officials had said no extension was being planned, and the Board sent SMS reminders asking people to file on time.

By the evening, the picture had changed. Media reports said FBR had issued its own official circular moving the date to October 15. Taxpayers should trust only notices posted on the FBR website, fbr.gov.pk, and its verified social media accounts. Something similar happened last year too. FBR first said there would be no extension, then moved the tax year 2025 deadline to October 15 and later to October 31.

Why taxpayers needed more time

The main reason is the IRIS portal, the online system used to file returns. Under the law, taxpayers usually get about 90 days to file. This year, the tax year 2026 return only opened on IRIS on July 27, which left around 65 days. The final return form was formally notified on September 2, more than a month after people had already started filing.

The new return had trouble from the start. In August, sources told ProPakistani that its first version had around 500 bugs. The Karachi Tax Bar Association complained that the system was not giving a receipt after a return was filed and that the refund option was not working. On September 15, the Lahore Tax Bar Association said IRIS was not running smoothly, and FBR admitted on social media that users were facing on and off technical problems.

Many groups then asked for extra time. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) asked for October 31. The Pakistan Tax Advisers Association wanted November 30, and the Pakistan Tax Bar Association asked for December 3. On September 29, the Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association wrote to FBR Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial asking for one more month, saying the portal had been unstable for over a week. FBR has given 15 days, which is less than any of these groups wanted.

More people are filing than last year

Even with all the problems, more people have filed this year. FBR had received around 5 million returns by September 29, compared with about 3.2 million at the same point last year, according to reported figures. FBR officials also said that nearly 1.3 million of this year's returns came from new taxpayers.

For comparison, tax year 2025 closed with a record 5.9 million returns by October 31, 2025. With two extra weeks, this year's total could pass that mark. The government has been trying to widen Pakistan's small tax base, and more filers help with that goal.

What you should do now

If you have not filed yet, do not wait for the last day. IRIS usually slows down badly in the final days before any deadline. You can file at iris.fbr.gov.pk. If you owe tax, make a payment slip (PSID) on IRIS and pay it through your bank app or at a bank branch.

Missing the new date can cost you money. Under the law, the late filing penalty is Rs 1,000 a day or 0.1 percent of the tax payable per day, whichever is higher, with a minimum of Rs 10,000 for people whose income is mostly salary. A late filer is also kept off the Active Taxpayers List (ATL) for the year unless they pay a surcharge, which is now Rs 25,000 for an individual. People who are not on the ATL pay higher withholding tax on things like buying property or vehicles and taking cash out of banks.

If you truly cannot file on time because of illness, being abroad or another genuine reason, you can apply in writing to your own tax commissioner under Section 119 before the deadline. The commissioner can allow up to 15 more days for that one person.

FBR has not said anything about a second extension. It did extend twice last year, but that is no promise for this year. For now, October 15, 2026 is the last date. Companies whose financial year ends in June are not affected, as their deadline was already December 31, 2026.