ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has urged Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who also serves as Chairman of the National Tax Council (NTC), to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns by at least 30 days from October 15 to November 15, 2025.
In a formal letter addressed to the finance minister, PTBA President Anwar Kashif Mumtaz and General Secretary Mohammad Rehan Siddiqui appreciated the government’s ongoing efforts to integrate data from various departments and the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) technological initiatives. They particularly lauded the FBR’s recent use of technology to alert citizens through messages regarding their financial transactions, such as property purchases, vehicle ownership, and debit/credit card spending.
The association noted that these measures have created greater public awareness, motivating citizens to regularize their tax affairs and file returns accurately. “People are taking serious note of FBR’s messages and are now willing to file or revise their returns,” the PTBA stated.
However, the association emphasized that several technical and procedural issues remain unresolved despite repeated representations from member bars. It argued that many genuine taxpayers and potential filers might face difficulties in completing their filings within the existing deadline.
We feel that the date for filing income tax returns must be extended for at least 30 days to give the last chance to non-filers to convert their status into filers and facilitate those who are unable to meet the current deadline, the letter read.
The PTBA expressed optimism that the finance minister would consider their request in the broader interest of economic documentation, expansion of the tax base, and an improved tax-to-GDP ratio.
Copies of the letter have also been forwarded to the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, the Member Operations, and the Member Policy at the FBR