The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns for 2026 until December 2, citing persistent technical issues with the IRIS portal, errors in return forms and problems with the minimum tax calculation formula.
In a letter to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, the association said the deadline extension to October 15, announced through Circular No. 03 of 2026 on September 30, had not sufficiently addressed the difficulties faced by taxpayers and tax practitioners.
PTBA highlighted continued disruptions caused by technical glitches in the IRIS portal and delays in correcting errors in tax return formats. It also pointed to the time required to update immovable property details and provide International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs) for bank accounts.
The association said it and its affiliated district tax bar associations had repeatedly asked the FBR to align the return filing system with the Income Tax Ordinance and relevant rules while removing unnecessary procedural and technical hurdles.
PTBA also raised concerns over the minimum tax calculation formula, alleging that it was being applied incorrectly in certain cases involving taxpayers under the minimum tax regime who also earned income from sources not subject to tax deduction under that regime.
According to the association, the issue has been raised repeatedly with the relevant authorities through correspondence, media platforms and online meetings involving the FBR chairman, members and the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) team. However, PTBA said the required corrective action had not yet been taken.
The association has requested an extension until December 2 to give taxpayers and tax practitioners sufficient time to complete their returns in accordance with the law. It has also called on the FBR to correct the minimum tax formula and resolve the remaining technical issues in the filing system.
The proposed extension remains a request by PTBA; the FBR has not been reported to have announced a new deadline in the information provided.
