Tax consultants and industry representatives have urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the Tax Year 2026 income tax return filing deadline, citing repeated technical issues and delays with the IRIS portal.
The current deadline for individuals and associations of persons (AOPs) is September 30. Under the Income Tax Ordinance, taxpayers are generally allowed 90 days to file returns, but the Tax Year 2026 return became available on the IRIS portal on July 27, leaving taxpayers around 65 days to complete the process.
The final return form was officially notified on September 2 through S.R.O. 1495(I)/2026 and included four new sections. Tax experts said the late availability of the finalized form and technical problems have made it difficult for many taxpayers to complete their filings on time.
Tax expert Amer Sharif said taxpayers have experienced portal slowdowns, glitches and other problems while submitting returns. He added that the IRIS system has repeatedly failed to properly accept returns for many individuals in recent weeks.
Several business and tax bodies have also called for an extension. The Pakistan Tax Bar Association has requested that the deadline be extended to December 3, 2026, while the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has sought an extension until October 31.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tax Advisers Association has requested an extension until November 30. These proposals reflect different timelines sought by professional and business organizations to give taxpayers additional time to complete their filings.
As of September 28, the FBR’s official filing schedule still lists September 30 as the deadline. Tax experts have urged the FBR to make an early decision so taxpayers and accountants can plan accordingly rather than waiting for a last-minute announcement.
