Tax year, as defined by Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, means the tax year as defined in sub-section (1) of section 74 and, in relation to a person, includes a special year or a transitional year that the person is permitted to use under section 74.
According to the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, updated up to June 30, 2020 issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), explained the Section 74 as:
Tax year.— (1) For the purpose of this Ordinance and subject to this section, the tax year shall be a period of twelve months ending on the 30th day of June (hereinafter referred to as ‘normal tax year’) and shall, subject to sub-section (3), be denoted by the calendar year in which the said date falls.
(2) Where a person’s income year, under the repealed Ordinance, is different from the normal tax year, or where a person is allowed, by an order under sub-section (3), to use a twelve months’ period different from normal tax year, such income year or such period shall be that person’s tax year (hereinafter referred to as ‘special tax year’) and shall, subject to sub-section (3), be denoted by the calendar year relevant to normal tax year in which the closing date of the special tax year falls.
(2A) The Board,—
(i) in the case of a class of persons having a special tax year different from a normal tax year may permit, by a notification in the official Gazette, to use a normal tax year; and
(ii) in the case of a class of persons having a normal tax year may permit, by a notification in the official Gazette, to use a special tax year.]
(3) A person may apply, in writing, to the Commissioner to allow him to use a twelve months’ period, other than normal tax year, as special tax year and the Commissioner may, subject to sub-section (5), by an order, allow him to use such special tax year.
(4) A person using a special tax year, under sub-section (2), may apply in writing, to the Commissioner to allow him to use normal tax year and the Commissioner may, subject to sub-section (5), by an order, allow him to use normal tax year.
(5) The Commissioner shall grant permission under sub-section (3) or (4) only if the person has shown a compelling need to use special tax year or normal tax year, as the case may be, and the permission shall be subject to such conditions, if any, as the Commissioner may impose.
(6) An order under sub-section (3) or (4) shall be made after providing to the applicant an opportunity of being heard and where his application is rejected the Commissioner shall record in the order the reasons for rejection.
(7) The Commissioner may, after providing to the person concerned an opportunity of being heard, by an order, withdraw the permission granted under sub-section (3) or (4).
(8) An order under sub-section (3) or (4) shall take effect from such date, being the first day of the special tax year or the normal tax year, as the case may be, as may be specified in the order.
(9) Where the tax year of a person changes as a result of an order under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4), the period between the end of the last tax year prior to change and the date on which the changed tax year commences shall be treated as a separate tax year, to be known as the “transitional tax year”.
(10) In this Ordinance, a reference to a particular financial year shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include a special tax year or a transitional tax year commencing during the financial year.
(11) A person dissatisfied with an order under sub-section (3), (4) or (7) may file a review application to the Board, and the decision by the Board on such application shall be final.
