Taxpayers have until Saturday, October 31, 2026, to file their income tax returns, and missing the tax return deadline will now cost far more than before. From November 1, the “late filer” category will end and anyone who has not filed will be treated as a non-filer, according to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) sources.
This is already the third deadline this year. The original date was September 30. The FBR moved it to October 15, then to October 31 after requests from trade bodies and tax lawyers.
From Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 25,000
The biggest change hits people who file late and then want their filer status back. To return to the FBR’s Active Taxpayer List (ATL), the official list of filers, late filers must pay a fee called a surcharge. Under the Finance Act 2026, this fee has gone up sharply:
Individuals now pay Rs. 25,000, up from Rs. 1,000. That is 25 times more than before. Associations of persons, such as partnerships, now pay Rs. 50,000, up from Rs. 10,000. Companies now pay Rs. 100,000, up from Rs. 20,000.
This fee comes on top of any tax you owe and any separate penalty for filing late. Even someone with no tax to pay can still face these costs.
Why being on the list matters
Staying on the ATL is not just about avoiding fines. In Pakistan, non-filers pay higher taxes on many everyday deals, such as buying property, registering a car and withdrawing cash from banks.
So someone who misses Saturday’s deadline faces a choice. They can pay Rs. 25,000 to get back on the list, or stay a non-filer and pay the higher taxes on these deals.
Traders and Asaan Tax Scheme users
FBR sources said October 31 is also the last date for traders to register for sales tax and income tax under the current arrangements. They urged traders to sign up before then to avoid extra penalties.
People using the Asaan Tax Scheme, the government’s simplified tax scheme, face rising fines if they file late, the sources said. The fine is Rs. 10,000 in the first month after the deadline. It rises to Rs. 25,000 in the second month and Rs. 50,000 in the third.
How to file before Saturday
Returns are filed online through the FBR’s IRIS portal or the Tax Asaan mobile app. Many taxpayers have complained of slowdowns and glitches on IRIS this season, which was one reason for the earlier extensions.
With only four days left, it is safer to file early rather than wait for the last night, when traffic on the system is heaviest. The FBR says the higher fines are meant to push more people into filing on time and to widen the tax net.
