FBR extends tax return filing deadline to October 15

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for tax year 2026 from September 30 to October 15.

The extension will provide taxpayers additional two weeks to submit their income tax returns.

The previous deadline for filing returns was September 30.

 “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, the Federal Board of Revenue is pleased to communicate that the date of filing of Income Tax Return for Tax Year 2026, for the persons who are required to file their returns by September 30, 2026, is hereby extended up to October 15, 2026 in view of the requests from various trade bodies and tax bar associations,” the FBR said in a notification.

The FBR’s notification came hours after a fake circular claiming an extension of the tax filing deadline was circulated on social media.

On Monday, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), urged the government and the FBR to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns by one month – moving the cutoff date to October 31, 2026 – to facilitate trade, industry, and other tax filers.

The apex trade body had maintained that the extension was not a concession but a practical necessity to ensure maximum tax compliance, broaden the tax base, and alleviate pressure currently faced by the business community, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and individual taxpayers.