ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) on Saturday said that it will not extend the September 30 deadline fixed by the tax collecting authority for the filing of tax returns.
FBR spokesperson Bakhtiar Muhammad while speaking to local media said historically, the authority has been facilitating the masses by extending the overall deadline. However, this time the decision has been made that the final date for filing of tax returns will not be extended.
Last year, the FBR extended the date for the filing of tax returns to October 31. However, it seems that the FBR will adopt a strict approach towards the issue amid the incumbent government’s efforts to expand the tax net.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led administration passed its tax-heavy budget in June and set out a plan to boost its prospects of securing a fresh bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The FBR spokesperson said that it was a legal requirement to submit the tax returns by September 30. Acknowledging that some filers may find it difficult to file their returns before the due date, such people can reach out to their respective tax commissioners to resolve the issue. He added they can secure an extension in the dead line owing to their specific reasons.
Noting that there were still nine days left to submit the returns, the official said: “There is a three-month period for people to file their tax returns from July 1 till September 30. If they wanted to submit their returns, they would have done so during this time”.
The annual tax collection target of FBR envisaged Rs12,970 billion, which was approved by the parliament.
