Every year thousands of salaried people, freelancers and business owners in Islamabad and Rawalpindi scramble in the last week of September. The good news: filing is simple when you prepare early. This guide explains the Tax Year 2026 deadline, who must file and how to avoid penalties.
Who must file a return?
- Anyone with taxable income above PKR 600,000 in the year
- Owners of a vehicle above 1000cc, immovable property of 500 sq. yards or more, or a flat in most urban areas
- Anyone holding an NTN or registered for sales tax
- Every company and AOP, regardless of income
- Anyone who wants to be on the Active Taxpayer List
Key dates
- 30 September 2026: individuals, AOPs and salaried persons
- 31 December 2026: companies with a 30 June year-end
- 30 September 2026: companies with a December year-end (special tax year)
- ATL update: the list refreshes each year on 1 March, and late filers pay a surcharge to be added
Documents to gather
- CNIC and IRIS login
- Salary certificate or Form 16 from your employer
- Bank statements for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026
- Withholding certificates: bank profit, mobile, vehicle, property
- Details of property, vehicles, investments and loans for the wealth statement
Penalties for late filing
Late filers face a penalty of 0.1% of tax payable per day, with a minimum of PKR 1,000 for salaried individuals, plus an ATL surcharge. More importantly, non-filers pay double or triple withholding on property, vehicles and bank transactions throughout the year.
File early with us
Send your documents on WhatsApp and our practitioners will file your return within 1–3 working days, usually the same day for salaried clients. We review every tax credit so you never overpay.
