Tax bodies and trade organisations seek more time, citing delays in finalising the Tax Year 2026 return form and compliance difficulties.
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is expected to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026 following mounting pressure from trade bodies and tax bar associations, sources within the tax authority said on Wednesday.
September 30, 2026, is the last date for taxpayers to file their annual income tax returns for Tax Year 2026. However, taxpayers and professional bodies have raised concerns over difficulties in completing compliance requirements within the prescribed timeframe.
According to FBR sources, trade bodies have approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking an extension in the return filing deadline, citing problems faced by taxpayers in completing their returns and related documentation.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) have also urged the government and FBR to extend the deadline to facilitate taxpayers.
Tax experts seek additional time
Tax experts have argued that the deadline should be extended because the FBR could not finalise and upload the Tax Year 2026 income tax return form within the timeframe originally expected.
A senior tax lawyer said the FBR had been expected to finalise the return form in July 2026, but the final version was uploaded on September 2.
“Taxpayers were effectively given only 28 days to complete compliance instead of the expected 90-day period,” the lawyer said.
The delay in finalising the return form has emerged as a major concern for taxpayers, particularly businesses and individuals requiring additional time to compile financial information and meet revised compliance requirements.
Stakeholders have therefore called for sufficient time to enable taxpayers to file accurate returns rather than rushing to meet the original September 30 deadline.
Stakeholders seek extension
The demand for an extension also comes against the backdrop of a similar decision for Tax Year 2025, when the FBR extended the return filing deadline by one month after stakeholders highlighted difficulties in completing compliance.
Sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had returned to Pakistan following his participation in United Nations meetings and a visit to London. They added that an announcement regarding an extension to the Tax Year 2026 filing deadline was expected by Wednesday evening.
If approved, the extension would provide additional time to taxpayers and tax practitioners seeking to complete the filing process and meet the required compliance obligations.
Until a formal notification is issued by the FBR, September 30, 2026, remains the prescribed filing deadline for Tax Year 2026.