FBR says viral notice extending tax filing deadline is fake
The Federal Board of Revenue has said a document circulating on social media that claims the deadline for filing Tax Year 2026 income tax returns has been extended to 15 October was not issued by the authority. The document is dated 30 September 2026 and labelled "Circular No. 4 of 2026-27 IR Operations". It states that, under Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, the board extended the filing deadline to 15 October after requests from trade bodies and tax bar associations. Officials at the Federal Board of Revenue have termed the notice fake, and 30 September remains the official deadline unless the board announces otherwise.
For Tax Year 2025, the filing deadline was extended to 15 October, with a further extension granted later. The wording of that earlier notification appears to have been reused to make the circulating document look genuine, which the board's clarification suggests has added to taxpayers' confusion. The authority has urged taxpayers and tax professionals to stop relying on screenshots and forwarded messages, and to verify any change in deadline through its official website and verified social media accounts. Requests for an extension, it notes, are not the same thing as an approved extension.
Filing activity has nonetheless risen sharply this year. According to the figures cited, around 5.181 million returns had reportedly been filed for Tax Year 2026 by 29 September, against roughly 3.553 million in the corresponding period last year — an increase of about 45.8 per cent. Thousands of taxpayers are still rushing to file as the cut-off approaches.
Missing the prescribed deadline carries potential costs. Taxpayers may face financial penalties under Section 182 of the Income Tax Ordinance, and late filers may have to pay an additional amount to regain their place on the Active Taxpayer List. That status matters because it can influence the rate of tax deducted on a range of transactions, including property dealings, vehicle registration and certain banking transactions.
The run-up to the deadline has also brought complaints from some taxpayers and tax professionals about technical difficulties and filing problems on the IRIS portal, with business groups and tax practitioners calling for additional time. However, no extension has been approved, and unless the Federal Board of Revenue officially announces a change, 30 September remains the deadline.
