The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has clarified that no extension has been granted for filing income tax returns for Tax Year 2026, rejecting a circular circulating online that claimed the deadline had been moved to October 15.

The FBR said the document being shared on social media and in the press is fake and was not issued by the tax authority.

The forged circular is titled “Circular No. 4 of 2026-27 IR-Operations” and carries the date September 30, 2026. It claims that the deadline, originally set for September 30, has been extended until October 15.

The document also refers to Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, and states that the alleged extension was granted following requests from taxpayers, trade organizations and tax bar associations.

The circular started circulating on the last day of the tax return filing deadline, particularly through social media and WhatsApp, potentially creating confusion among taxpayers and tax professionals.

The FBR has advised taxpayers to verify such announcements through its official communication channels and not rely on documents shared through unofficial sources.

As of September 30, the FBR has not announced an extension to the Tax Year 2026 filing deadline.

Taxpayers who have not yet submitted their returns have been advised to file them without waiting for an extension that has not been officially announced.

Failure to file on time can result in penalties and other consequences under tax laws, including issues relating to Active Taxpayer List (ATL) status and applicable withholding tax rates.