PM Shahbaz Sharif Requested to Extend FBR Tax Return Date 2025 — Practitioners Cite System Failures
Leading tax consultants, advisers, and accountants from across Pakistan have formally requested Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to extend the FBR Tax Return Date 2025 to November 30, 2025, citing major digital and operational system failures.
The appeal, submitted through the Pakistan Tax Advisers Association (PTAA) and signed by Advocate Supreme Court Javed Iqbal Qazi, highlights the repeated breakdowns in FBR’s IRIS system, prolonged internet outages, and mounting pressure on tax practitioners.
According to PTAA, the combination of technical bottlenecks and national connectivity issues has made it practically impossible for millions of taxpayers to meet the current deadline of October 15, 2025.
⚙️ FBR’s Initial Extension and Ongoing Filing Challenges
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had initially extended the income tax return filing deadline for the Tax Year 2025 from September 30 to October 15, after its online portal IRIS became congested on the final day of filing.
However, the situation has not improved. The IRIS portal, developed by PRAL (Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited), continues to face frequent crashes, time-outs, and data upload failures. As a result, thousands of users are unable to file their returns even after days of effort.
Tax advisers argue that this scenario repeats every year, but 2025 has been exceptionally difficult due to countrywide internet service disruptions and power outages in major cities.
🌐 Internet and System Failures Hit Tax Filing Across Pakistan
Over the past week, citizens across Punjab, Islamabad, and parts of Sindh experienced near-complete internet shutdowns. For tax filers who depend entirely on the online IRIS platform, this meant total paralysis.
Practitioners report that even after multiple login attempts, the system either crashed or failed to process CPRNs — the tax payment challans generated through FBR-linked banks.
“When IRIS doesn’t open and internet services are down, how can taxpayers file returns?” said Javed Iqbal Qazi, Chairman PTAA.
“The government must realize the ground realities and act before the chaos spreads.”
🧾 Reasons Behind Request to Extend FBR Tax Return Date 2025
The Pakistan Tax Advisers Association and several provincial bar councils have listed the following major reasons for demanding an extension:
- Severe Internet Disruptions: Connectivity failures have prevented filers from accessing the IRIS system.
- IRIS Technical Breakdowns: Frequent crashes, lagging response, and data-saving errors.
- Electricity Load Shedding: Offices in smaller towns faced daily outages, halting e-filing progress.
- Massive Filing Burden: A huge backlog of cases from individuals, businesses, and companies.
- Economic Pressures: Inflation and financial strain delaying taxpayers’ ability to clear dues.
Each of these challenges, experts say, must be acknowledged by the FBR and Prime Minister’s Office before imposing penalties on ordinary citizens.
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💼 Heavy Workload on Accountants and Tax Lawyers
Across Pakistan, Chartered Accountants, Tax Consultants, and Advocates are operating at full capacity to manage client submissions.
However, when the IRIS portal fails to load or process data, they face repeated rework and data loss — costing valuable time and resources.
Several accounting firms have warned that they may be unable to complete even 70% of their returns before October 15 if the situation persists.
The PTAA report notes that “the target fixed by the FBR for number of returns cannot be achieved under the current system performance.”
💬 Statement from PTAA Chairman Javed Iqbal Qazi
In his official letter to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Advocate Javed Iqbal Qazi stressed that the issue is not negligence on part of taxpayers but a failure of system infrastructure.
“The IRIS system and the PRAL network are functioning far below expected capacity. This is a national issue affecting compliance and revenue alike,”
Qazi wrote.
“We have received hundreds of messages from members across Pakistan urging the government to extend the date to November 30 to restore public confidence.”
The letter emphasizes that the extension would help both taxpayers and the FBR meet the revenue targets for FY-2025-26.
📊 Previous Patterns of FBR Deadline Extensions
Historically, the FBR has extended tax filing deadlines almost every year, often at the very last moment — sometimes even past midnight.
In 2024, the extension from September 30 to October 15 was announced just minutes before the deadline, leading to panic among users and further system congestion.
Experts argue that such last-minute announcements harm both taxpayers and the government’s credibility. They recommend that this time, the extension should be announced early, to prevent a sudden overload on FBR’s servers and to promote responsible compliance.
🕒 Current Status – What Is the FBR Tax Return Date 2025?
As of now, the official FBR tax return filing date 2025 is October 15, 2025.
The deadline applies to individuals, salaried persons, AOPs, and business entities under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
However, due to system breakdowns and connectivity issues, tax experts have requested Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to extend it to November 30, 2025.
They believe that this extra 45-day window would help stabilize filings, avoid penalties, and ensure that Pakistan meets its revenue compliance goals.
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🔍 Which Tax Return Is Due in 2025?
The Income Tax Return for Tax Year 2025 is currently due.
This applies to all individuals, firms, and companies with taxable income or withholding obligations under Pakistani law.
For salaried employees, this means filing annual income declarations through IRIS, while businesses must also include detailed profit and expense statements.
Many filers have completed their documentation but remain unable to submit due to IRIS malfunctions, hence the nationwide call for an extension.
🧠 Expert Opinion: Need for FBR Digital Reforms
Leading financial experts are calling for structural reforms in FBR’s digital framework.
They emphasize that PRAL’s infrastructure should be shifted to cloud-based servers capable of handling millions of concurrent users.
Additionally, the IRIS user interface should be modernized with real-time tracking, mobile filing options, and integrated bank verification.
Without such reforms, experts warn, Pakistan will continue facing the same crisis every filing season.
“The government’s digital tax dream can only succeed if the system is fast, reliable, and accessible,” remarked one senior Chartered Accountant from Karachi.
💰 Economic and Administrative Implications
The delay in tax filing has broader consequences for Pakistan’s economy and fiscal management.
When deadlines are unrealistic and systems underperform, the number of filed returns drops sharply, affecting revenue projections and budgetary planning.
Tax experts stress that an early, decisive announcement from the Prime Minister will not only provide relief to taxpayers but also help the government collect higher revenue through voluntary compliance.
📅 What Is the Last Date for Filing Tax Return for Assessment Year 2025-26?
If the proposed extension is approved, the last date for filing income tax return for assessment year 2025-26 would officially be November 30, 2025.
This aligns with the PTAA’s recommendation and gives taxpayers a reasonable timeline to complete filings, verify data, and make payments via CPRNs.
Until the official notification is issued, however, the existing deadline of October 15 remains in force.
🏛️ Expected Government Response and Outlook
Government insiders suggest that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken note of the PTAA’s letter.
Officials from the FBR and Ministry of Finance are reportedly preparing a summary evaluating the volume of pending returns and system readiness.
Analysts expect that the extension request may be approved soon — possibly for November 15 or November 30, depending on the situation of IRIS performance and internet recovery nationwide.
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✅ Conclusion: A Step Toward Sensible Tax Administration
The request to extend the FBR Tax Return Date 2025 is not an excuse — it is a practical necessity. Pakistan’s tax professionals are urging the government to act with foresight, prioritizing system reliability, digital access, and public trust.
By granting an early extension until November 30, 2025, the government can prevent chaos, increase compliance, and build confidence in Pakistan’s tax administration.
Ultimately, smoother systems lead to higher revenue, better governance, and stronger economic stability.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about PM Shahbaz Sharif Requested to Extend FBR Tax Return Date 2025 :
Q1. What is the current FBR tax return date 2025?
The official last date for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2025 is October 15, 2025.
Q2. Why are tax practitioners requesting an extension?
Because the IRIS system is malfunctioning, internet services are unstable, and workload on tax advisers is overwhelming.
Q3. What new date has been proposed?
The Pakistan Tax Advisers Association (PTAA) has requested that the new date be set as November 30, 2025.
Q4. Who has submitted the request to the Prime Minister?
The formal letter was submitted by Advocate Javed Iqbal Qazi, Chairman of PTAA.
Q5. What happens if the deadline is not extended?
Many taxpayers may fail to file on time, leading to penalties, late-filing surcharges, and reduced FBR compliance rates.
