Pakistan has achieved a significant milestone in its tax collection drive, with income tax return filings climbing to 5.9 million by the October 31 deadline — a 17.6% increase from 5 million filings recorded last year.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) not to offer any blanket extension for tax return submissions this year. However, individuals facing genuine difficulties may still apply for extensions through the IRIS system on a case-by-case basis.
Strong Growth in Tax Payments
Of the total filers, 3.6 million taxpayers submitted returns accompanied by tax payments — an 18.6% rise compared to the previous year.
Individual taxpayers have also shown stronger compliance, collectively paying Rs. 69 billion, up from Rs. 60 billion in 2024 — an increase of 15%, or approximately Rs. 9 billion in additional revenue.
The FBR commended citizens for their growing cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to building a transparent, equitable, and technology-driven tax system. It pledged to continue simplifying procedures and expanding digital access to make compliance easier for taxpayers.
Awareness Campaign Fuels Record Filings
Officials credit the surge in filings to a nationwide awareness campaign led by the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Information, and FBR.
Using modern outreach tools, authorities conducted large-scale robocalls, WhatsApp messages, and behavioral nudges to remind citizens of their filing obligations.
According to FBR, more than 800,000 behaviorally informed messages were sent using third-party data, including congratulatory notes, helpful reminders, and final warnings. Additionally, 70,000 targeted emails highlighted comparative income levels to motivate timely and accurate compliance.
The FBR reported that the latest figures reflect filings recorded up to 7:00 p.m. on October 31, 2025, marking one of the strongest tax filing performances in Pakistan’s history.
