FBR Responds to Requests of Income Tax Return Filing Deadline Extension

The proposal sent to the Prime Minister to extend the return filing deadline is not even under consideration, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Rashid Langrial said on Sunday. The chairman said currently no decision has been taken to extend the due date and September 30 (today) is the last date to file tax returns for tax year 2024. While some sources have suggested that technical issues in the FBR IRIS website have caused delays, officials maintain that no extension will be granted. There is still some time before today’s deadline concludes and many expect the government to reign in a short extension. Majority commentators don’t expect this to happen. FBR sources told ProPakistani earlier today that starting October 1, 2024, hundreds of thousands of non-filers will be issued notices. Foreign travel will be prohibited if they don’t file their returns. The federal government is preparing to disconnect mobile phone SIMs and utility connections of non-filers and double withholding tax rates, sources added. The tax machinery earlier said it had complete records of citizens’ transaction data and will ban property and vehicle transactions by non-filers. Following today’s deadline, an extensive audit of taxpayers will be conducted, and those found evading taxes or providing false information will face heavy penalties.