Pakistan Banks To Extend Working Hours Until 10 PM On Sept 30 For Tax Payments.
Listen2 min
Read aloud by your device’s built-in synthetic voice, not a recording. Needs a browser that can read aloud.
✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
The State Bank of Pakistan directs commercial banks to keep branches open until 10 PM on September 30, 2026, to facilitate tax payments. Commercial bank branches across Pakistan will observe extended working hours, remaining open until 10:00 PM on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The directive, issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) at the request of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), is designed to facilitate taxpayers in making over-the-counter (OTC) payments for government duties and taxes ahead of the statutory filing deadline for Tax Year 2026. Additionally, the central bank has instructed commercial banks to ensure the uninterrupted availability of all digital payment channels including internet banking, mobile applications, and ATMs alongside maintaining special clearing arrangements through NIFT to accommodate high volumes of last-minute fiscal transactions.
Commercial banks in Pakistan will extend their working hours on September 30, 2026, to facilitate taxpayers in making payments ahead of the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026.
The extended banking hours are intended to ensure taxpayers can deposit their tax liabilities through over-the-counter channels and other available payment facilities before the cutoff. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has closely monitored the final stretch of tax collection as millions of individuals and businesses race to meet the September 30 statutory deadline.
SBP Directives for Over-the-Counter and Digital Channels
Under the arrangement coordinated by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), all designated commercial bank branches will remain operational until 10:00 PM. Banks have also been advised to keep relevant branches open for as long as required to facilitate Special Clearing for government transactions conducted via the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT).
To support taxpayers utilizing remote channels, the central bank mandated the continuous, uninterrupted availability of digital platforms:
- Online Banking & Mobile Apps: Maintained live for seamless fund transfers and tax voucher generation.
- ATMs and Digital Wallets: Secured against downtime to process last-minute payments.
Rising FBR Filing Volumes
The late-hour banking support coincides with a sharp surge in submissions. FBR data indicates that approximately 4.7 million income tax returns have been filed ahead of the cutoff, outpacing previous periods and underlining heightened engagement from the trading and salaried communities.
With penalties and the risk of losing Active Taxpayer List (ATL) status looming for delayed submissions, the extended banking window provides a crucial operational buffer for taxpayers completing their financial obligations.
