The Federal Board of Revenue is expected to publish the new ATL a day after the extended income tax return filing deadline, subject to any further extension.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is set to publish the new Active Taxpayers List (ATL) for Tax Year 2026 on October 16, 2026, following the expiry of the extended income tax return filing deadline on October 15.

According to FBR sources, the ATL was originally scheduled for publication on October 1. However, the tax authority extended the deadline for filing annual income tax returns from September 30 to October 15, prompting a corresponding delay in the release of the new list.

The sources said that a further extension in the income tax return filing deadline was not under consideration at the time. However, if the FBR extends the deadline again, the new ATL will be published on the day following the revised filing deadline.

The ATL identifies taxpayers who meet the FBR’s criteria for active taxpayer status and is used to determine eligibility for various tax-related benefits and withholding tax rates under the applicable law.

FBR changes ATL publication schedule

Previously, the FBR published a new ATL on March 1 each year, based on income tax returns filed by February 28.

Under the revised arrangement, the list is published on the day after the income tax return filing deadline expires, linking its release more closely to the annual filing schedule.

The FBR has also moved from weekly to daily updates of the ATL, allowing changes in taxpayers’ status to be reflected more frequently.

The new schedule is intended to ensure that the list reflects the relevant filing cycle for each tax year. Taxpayers should check their status through the FBR’s official channels once the updated ATL becomes available.