FBR dismisses 'fake' notification on extension of income tax filing deadline

On Wednesday, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) rebuffed a circulating media notification claiming that they had extended the deadline for income tax return filings in 2026 to October 15. The FBR spokesperson assured that no such circular had been issued. The notification on social media had asserted that the deadline extension was granted "in view of the requests from various trade bodies, taxpayers, and tax bar associations."

However, the FBR clarified that the deadline for submitting income tax returns for the tax year 2026 remains September 30. Various trade organizations and professionals had sought an extension, citing difficulties in timely filing due to delays in return form issuance and heavy online traffic. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry president, Atif Ikram Sheikh, had formally requested the government to extend the deadline until October 31 to aid trade, industry, and other tax payers.

The Karachi Tax Bar Association had also submitted a five-page letter to the Member Inland Revenue, outlining problems such as delays in drafting notifications and technical issues on the IRIS portal, which impede smooth tax return filing. Despite historically extending the deadline two to three times each year, typically until the end of October, the penalty for late filing has been significantly increased under the Finance Act 2026-27, making compliance more burdensome for late filers.