FBR likely to extend tax return submission deadline

• FBR mulling extending Sept 30 deadline by 15 days: sources.
• FPCCI president calls for deadline to be extended to Oct 15.
  
• Tax authority's offices to remain open today to collect returns.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) is likely to extend the deadline for the submission of tax returns following the meeting of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir with the business community in Karachi, The News reported on Sunday citing sources.

Sources within the FBR say that the deadline for filing income tax returns for the year 2023-24 is likely to be extended by 15 days for individuals, associations of persons, businessmen and companies.

The development comes after the tax authority, last week, ruled out any extension by the September 30 deadline.

"Historically, a facility used to be given [to the masses] by extending the overall deadline. However, this time the decision has been made that the date [for submission of tax returns] will not be extended and September 30 will be the last date to file tax returns," FBR spokesperson Bakhtiar Muhammad had said while speaking to Geo News.

Acknowledging that some filers may find it difficult to submit their returns before the due date, the spokesperson said such people can reach out to their respective tax commissioners and seek an individual extension as provisioned in the law.

They can secure an extension owing to their specific reasons, however, the deadline will not be pushed beyond September 30 for the entire country overall, he added.

However, the tax body is mulling extending the deadline after the business community, during their meeting with the army chief, suggested that the FBR should create convenience for businessmen instead of difficulties.

The meeting in question refers to COAS General Munir's Karachi visit wherein he interacted with the business community and hailed their contributions towards the country's economic growth, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Friday.

President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Atif Ikram has also requested FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langriyal and his team to extend the returns filing date to October 15.

Ikram said that he was in constant contact with the FBR on his suggestion and noted that the last date for filing annual tax returns for individuals should be extended to October 15 so that maximum tax returns could be filed and difficulties faced by taxpayers could be eased.

Meanwhile, FBR sources say that its offices will remain open on Sunday and Monday and banks and tax offices will collect tax returns till 8pm on Monday and ensure that no citizen misses out on filing tax returns.