The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has urged the federal government and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns by one month, moving the cutoff date from September 30 to October 31, 2026.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said the extension is needed to facilitate trade, industry, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), individual taxpayers and other tax filers facing difficulties with the FBR’s IRIS system.
FPCCI Highlights Challenges With IRIS System
According to FPCCI, taxpayers and tax practitioners are facing significant technical difficulties as the September 30 filing deadline approaches.
The trade body said the FBR’s IRIS portal has experienced frequent slowdowns, glitches and periods of downtime because of heavy traffic. It said these disruptions are preventing taxpayers from submitting income tax returns and wealth statements accurately and within the existing deadline.
Atif Ikram Sheikh said businesses remain committed to fulfilling their tax obligations, but argued that taxpayers should not face penalties because of technical limitations within the filing system.
Business Community Seeks Filing Deadline Extension
The FPCCI president said the requested extension should not be viewed as a concession but as a practical measure to support tax compliance.
He maintained that an additional month would give taxpayers, tax lawyers and chartered accountants more time to complete filings, reconcile financial records and address technical difficulties encountered while using the IRIS portal.
The FPCCI believes a longer filing window could also help prevent taxpayers from being pushed into the non-filer category because of delays caused by system-related problems.
Complex Tax Requirements Add To Filing Pressure
FPCCI also pointed to recent amendments to tax laws and reporting requirements as another reason for extending the deadline.
The organization said taxpayers need additional time to understand new technical requirements and complete their wealth reconciliations while reducing the risk of inadvertent errors.
The trade body argued that the combination of regulatory changes and digital-system difficulties has increased the administrative burden on businesses and individual taxpayers.
SMEs Face Additional Administrative Challenges
The FPCCI also highlighted broader economic pressures affecting businesses, particularly SMEs.
According to the organization, high inflation and rising operational costs have stretched the administrative capacity of many businesses. Some companies are also working to finalize financial audits and collect the documentation required for tax filings.
FPCCI said these challenges make it difficult for some taxpayers to meet the existing September 30 deadline despite their intention to remain compliant.
Extension Could Support Tax Compliance
The apex trade body said extending the filing period would support the government’s objective of increasing the number of active tax filers.
FPCCI argued that a rushed filing process could lead to fewer and potentially less accurate submissions, while an additional month could give taxpayers more time to complete their returns and supporting documentation.
The organization maintained that wider compliance and improved filing quality could support the government’s tax collection objectives.
FPCCI Appeals To Government And FBR
Atif Ikram Sheikh has appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Minister for Finance and Revenue and the Chairman of the FBR to consider the request in light of the reported difficulties faced by taxpayers.
FPCCI warned that failure to extend the deadline could result in some legitimate businesses becoming non-filers and facing additional penalties or disruptions to their commercial activities.
The federation said it remains willing to work with the FBR to address technical problems and streamline the tax filing process for taxpayers and the government.