Income Tax Return - Pakistan - what, why, when, where to file

Learn what an income tax return is, why it matters, what information is commonly required and how filing works through FBR IRIS.

Income tax return filing guide for Pakistan
This guide is general information. Tax laws and procedures can change, and the correct treatment depends on your facts and current official guidance.

An income tax return in Pakistan is a form under Section 114(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance in which a taxpayer declares his total income (from all sources i.e., salary, business, rent, agriculture, foreign income, capital gain, profit from bank), expenses, taxes paid, and assets held by him during a financial year, and calculates the tax payable or refundable according to the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

Every taxpayer, either an individual or an organization (AOP/Partnership/Company), every Year must submit his income tax return between 1st July to 30th September. The deadline for filing the income tax return has been officially set by FBR Pakistan as 30th September of every year. The deadline can be extended by FBR.


Tax Year

The tax year in Pakistan is a period of 12 months, starting from July and ending in June for the relevant tax year.

The following table will guide you to easily understand the period of a tax year:

Tax Year

Period

2023

1st July 2022 to 30th June 2023

2024

1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024

2025

1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025

2026

1st July 2025 to 30th June 2026

 


Who is required to file an Income Tax Return?


Every individual, Company, AOP/Partnership that meets one of the following conditions must file an income tax return:

1. Registered with FBR and Obtained a National Tax Number (NTN)

2. Private or Public Limited company registered with SECP under the Companies Act 2017.

3. If the annual income of any individual or AOP or Partnership Business, exceeds the minimum taxable income amount (Rs. 600,000/-) which is not chargeable to tax.

4. Government institutes, Non-Profit Organizations, NGOs, etc.

5. Any income of an individual or AOP / Partnership business for the year which is subject to final taxation under any provision of this Ordinance

6.    If a person owns property of 500 square yards or more land area or owns a flat located in any municipal limits

7.    If a person owns a motor vehicle more than 1000CC engine capacity.

8.    Individual or AOP/ Partnership business having a commercial electric meter in his name


Documents Required to File Income Tax Return

 

This is a common question among taxpayers regarding what documents are required to file an income tax return. The following documents may be required:

 

Required For

Documents Required

Salaried

Business

Rental

Other source

Pay slips of complete relevant tax year (for 2026, from July 2025 to June 2026)

 

Yes

No

No

No

Tax Deduction certificate From Employer

 

Yes

No

No

No

Bank Statement of all bank accounts of relevant tax year (For 2026, From 1st July 2025 to 30 June 2026).

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Advance tax paid on vehicle registration, Property Purchase, Cash Withdrawal, Cell phone, internet bill, Commercial Electric Meter, etc.

 

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Detail of any other income for example Rental, Bank Profit etc.

 

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Tax deduction certificates from customers if any

 

No

Yes (If Any)

No

No

Rent Agreement In case of Rental Income

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes

Yes (If Any)

Details of Other Source Income

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes

Details of assets on his name if any for example;

Property (Address , Size with measurement unit, Purchase date and amount)

Vehicles (Registration number, Make and Model, Purchase date and amount)

Gold (Quantity and Amount)

Any Other assets cash in hand, animals, Personal items, Houshold effects etc

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

Yes (If Any)

 

Documents are only required to ensure that all income, expenses, and assets are declared as per the records. while filing income tax return, no document is required to be attached. You can submit the income tax return without documents.

 


 

Consequences to not file Income Tax Return


1.    You cannot maintain filer status

2.    You can face the notice for FBR

3.    You can face penalties for not filing income tax return as per law

4.    You have to pay more tax on cash withdrawal, Bank Profit, Property or vehicle purchase.

5.     Less credibility to the business as filer status is required for every business deal

 


  

When and where to file Income Tax Return

 

Every individual and organization after getting registered with FBR iris portal having link https://iris.fbr.gov.pk/login can file income tax return every year by themselves or with the help of consultant. Income Tax Return Filing Starts from July and ends on 30th September of every year. Deadline can be extended by the FBR.


 

Conclusion

 

To Maintain the filer status, taxpayers are required to submit their income tax return before the deadline. If you will file the return after deadline to will get late filer status which may cause more tax on property purchase.

 


 

About the author

Malik Qaiser is an accounting and bookkeeping professional with more than seven years of practical experience. QTax articles explain Pakistan tax and business topics in plain language and identify important limitations.

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