FBR clarifies erroneous tax reminder SMSs issued by telecom service providers

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday clarified that recent text messages urging taxpayers to file Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Tax Year 2025 before September 30 were sent in error by telecom service providers, as the official filing deadline had already passed.

According to a press release, the FBR routinely requests that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) send reminders to taxpayers ahead of the statutory deadline in September.

This year, FBR requested on 15 September 2025, and all authorized messages were sent before the 30 September deadline.

However, the board received multiple complaints from taxpayers who received SMS alerts after the deadline, prompting an inquiry.

It was confirmed that these messages were not authorized by FBR and were inadvertently transmitted due to a technical glitch on the part of the telecom service providers.

PTA has informed FBR that the issue originated with the telecom operators, and the board is actively coordinating with PTA to ensure the timely resolution of the matter.

FBR reassured taxpayers that it remains fully available to assist and is committed to clear, accurate, and timely communication regarding tax matters.