In a significant reversal of its earlier stance, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) late Tuesday night announced an extension for filing income tax returns for the tax year 2025, moving the deadline from September 30 to October 15.
The extension was announced just hours before the original deadline was set to expire at midnight, marking a clear shift from the FBR’s previously firm position that no further extensions would be granted. The decision suggests the tax authority has responded to growing pressure from trade bodies, tax professionals, and the general public.
According to an official statement, the extension has been granted under Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.
“The deadline has been extended in response to numerous requests from various trade associations, tax bar councils, and individual taxpayers,” the FBR said in its statement.
Until just a day prior, the FBR had maintained a strict stance, urging taxpayers to file their returns by September 30 and firmly denying any plans for an extension. The board had dismissed widespread speculation on social media about a possible extension as “false, baseless, and misleading.”
The FBR also previously rejected claims that recent flooding or alleged slowdowns in its Integrated Risk Information System (Iris) could warrant an extension, labeling such reports as unfounded.
This last-minute policy shift now gives taxpayers an additional two weeks to comply with filing requirements.