# FBR IRIS not working: tax return deadline still 30 September, Rs 25,000 late surcharge Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/economy/fbr-iris-not-working-tax-return-deadline-still-30-september-rs-25000-late-surcha) Type: News article Author: Searchable Editorial Published: 17 Sept 2026 Updated: 17 Sept 2026 Retrieved: 17 Sept 2026 > FBR admits intermittent faults on its filing portal with 13 days left and no extension announced. Here is how to file on time and what missing the date costs. The FBR tax return deadline for tax year 2026 is still **30 September 2026**, even though the Federal Board of Revenue has admitted that its **IRIS** filing portal is not working properly. With 13 days left, no extension has been announced, and a late filer now pays a **Rs 25,000** surcharge to get back on the Active Taxpayer List (ATL). ## What FBR admitted On 16 September the FBR said on X that taxpayers were facing "intermittent problems" on the IRIS portal, that its teams were working on a fix, and that it would tell taxpayers once the problem was resolved, ProPakistani and TechJuice report. The trouble began on Tuesday, 15 September. The **Lahore Tax Bar Association** complained of persistent glitches, delays and disruptions for taxpayers, consultants and lawyers across the country. Its chairman, Waheed Butt, asked the FBR to consider extending the deadline so that honest filers are not penalised for a system failure, TechJuice reports. The FBR has not said it will. ## Why the 30 September date matters - **Rs 25,000 late surcharge:** a return filed after the deadline only puts you on the ATL once you pay a surcharge, which the budget raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000, ProPakistani reported in June. - **Non-filer rates:** until you are on the ATL, banks, car dealers and property registrars deduct withholding tax at the higher non-filer rates. On cash withdrawals, a non-filer pays 0.8% once the day's total passes Rs 50,000: check the cost with our [cash withdrawal tax calculator](/tools/tax/cash-withdrawal-tax-calculator). - **Refunds and adjustments:** only a filed return lets you claim back excess tax deducted from your salary or profit. ## What to do this week 1. **Log in early or late.** Intermittent faults usually hit peak hours. Try IRIS (iris.fbr.gov.pk) before 9am or late at night, and save each section as a draft as you go. 2. **Use Tax Asaan.** The FBR's mobile app is an official filing route for simple salaried returns, the FBR said in its 14 September advisory (24 News). 3. **Keep proof of every attempt.** Screenshots of error messages, with the date and time, help if you later ask the commissioner to condone a late return. 4. **Get your numbers ready offline.** Download your salary tax certificate from your employer, bank withholding certificates and your property and vehicle details before you open IRIS. Work out your salary tax first with our [income tax calculator](/tools/tax/income-tax-calculator). 5. **Freelancers:** foreign earnings taxed at 0.25% through your bank still need a return for the tax to count as final. Estimate it with the [freelancer tax calculator](/tools/tax/freelancer-tax-calculator). 6. **Stuck completely?** FBR facilitation centres and tax offices also accept returns, according to the FBR advisory. ## Will the deadline be extended? The FBR has extended the return deadline in past years, but only by a formal notification, usually in the last days of September. Until one appears, plan for 30 September. We will update this story if the FBR changes the date. ## Frequently asked questions **What is the last date to file income tax return 2026 in Pakistan?** 30 September 2026 for tax year 2026. As of 17 September the FBR had not announced an extension, despite admitting intermittent problems on its IRIS portal. **What happens if I file my tax return after 30 September 2026?** Your return is accepted, but you are only added to the Active Taxpayer List after paying a Rs 25,000 surcharge, and until then you pay withholding tax at non-filer rates. ## Sources - FBR Finally Admits IRIS Is Not Working (16 Sep 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/16/fbr-finally-admits-iris-is-not-working/ - FBR Admits IRIS Portal Is Down as Tax Deadline Panic Grips Filers (Sep 2026) (TechJuice): https://www.techjuice.pk/fbr-admits-iris-portal-is-down-as-tax-deadline-panic-grips-filers/ - FBR fixes Sept 30, 2026 as tax returns deadline (14 Sep 2026) (24 News HD): https://www.24newshd.tv/14-Sep-2026/fbr-fixes-sept-30-2026-tax-returns-deadline - File Your Tax Returns on Time or Pay FBR Rs. 25,000 Fine (28 Jun 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/06/28/file-your-tax-returns-on-time-or-pay-fbr-rs-25000-fine/ - Federal Board of Revenue (FBR): https://www.fbr.gov.pk/ How to cite: "FBR IRIS not working: tax return deadline still 30 September, Rs 25,000 late surcharge", Searchable, 17 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/economy/fbr-iris-not-working-tax-return-deadline-still-30-september-rs-25000-late-surcha