FBR extends tax return deadline till Oct 31
Conceding to requests from traders and business groups, the Federal Board of Revenue has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns by 16 days. Tax returns can now be submitted until October 31.
According to an official notification issued by the FBR on Wednesday, the extension follows appeals from tax bar associations, chambers of commerce and industry, and various trader organisations.
“As per the new notification, the last date for submission of income tax returns for the tax year 2025 is now October 31,” the revenue body confirmed.
According to FBR sources, 5.1 million taxpayers have filed their returns so far, compared with 4.6 million by the same date last year — indicating a year-on-year increase in compliance.
Earlier, on September 30, the FBR had extended the deadline by 15 days from the original cut-off date. However, tax professionals and citizens continued to urge the government to push the deadline further to October 31.
The demand was also supported by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P), a key coalition partner, whose leaders recommended the extension to facilitate timely compliance by taxpayers.
The FBR had urged all remaining taxpayers to take advantage of the extended timeline and fulfil their legal obligations promptly to avoid penalties.
FPCCI urged extension in deadline
Earlier, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry had urged the Federal Board of Revenue to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns for the Tax Year 2025 from October 15 to October 31.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, in a statement on Monday, said that in a letter to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, the chamber highlighted the difficulties taxpayers are facing in meeting the current deadline.
He noted delays in obtaining essential financial documents, persistent technical issues with the FBR portal, and problems integrating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems with the tax authority’s digital invoicing framework.
Read More: 15-day extension sought in tax return filing deadline
Sheikh stressed the need for a taxpayer-friendly approach, urging the FBR to address these challenges promptly. “The extension will provide much-needed relief to taxpayers struggling to fulfil their legal obligations amid genuine constraints,” he said.
The FPCCI statement added that many taxpayers continue to face procedural and logistical bottlenecks, with the FBR’s online portal frequently slowing down or developing technical glitches that hinder smooth submission of returns.
The statement further said the difficulties in obtaining verified records have compounded the pressure on businesses whereas the ERP integration with the FBR’s digital invoicing requirements remains incomplete, causing delays in compliance.
The FPCCI maintained that extending the deadline would help ensure broader tax compliance and enable businesses to file accurate returns without the burden of last-minute complications.