FBR Dismisses Fake Circular Claiming Tax Return Deadline Extension.
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✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
The FBR has clarified that social media reports claiming an extension to the Tax Year 2026 income tax return deadline are fake, keeping the September 30 cutoff in place. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has formally dismissed a viral social media circular claiming that the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026 has been extended to October 15. The tax authority clarified that no such notification has been issued, confirming that the statutory deadline remains strictly September 30. The clarification comes amid high filing volumes surpassing 4.7 million returns and persistent technical congestion on the FBR's IRIS portal. While various trade bodies and tax associations have petitioned the government for an extension, taxpayers are advised not to rely on unverified notifications to avoid late penalties and potential loss of Active Taxpayer List (ATL) status. Meanwhile, commercial banks have kept branches open late under State Bank directives to accommodate final over-the-counter tax liabilities.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has clarified that a circular circulating on social media claiming an extension in the deadline for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026 is fake.
The tax authority stated unequivocally that no official notification has been issued regarding any change or extension to the return-filing deadline.
Official Deadline Remains September 30
The clarification comes on September 30, the established statutory deadline for individuals and associations of persons to file their annual income tax returns.
The fake notification, which circulated widely across social media platforms and messaging apps, falsely claimed the deadline had been extended to mid-October following appeals from business and trade circles. The FBR urged taxpayers to disregard the document and rely only on official channels for policy updates.
High Filing Volumes and Technical Pressures
The rumor surfaced as taxpayers and tax practitioners reported heavy traffic and technical glitches on the FBR’s IRIS portal during the final hours of filing. Key trade groups, including the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and regional tax bar associations, had earlier appealed for a one-month extension to ease compliance burdens.
Despite portal bottlenecks, the FBR reported substantial engagement, noting that approximately 4.7 million income tax returns have been submitted for Tax Year 2026—significantly higher than the 3.2 million recorded during the same period last year.
To support final-day compliance, the State Bank of Pakistan directed commercial banks to extend branch working hours and maintain uninterrupted digital payment channels for tax deposits. Taxpayers who have not yet completed their filings must submit their returns through the official IRIS portal before the cutoff to avoid statutory default penalties and safeguards against losing Active Taxpayer List (ATL) benefits.
