ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been extending the deadlines for filing of income tax returns on the request of chambers of commerce, tax bar associations and trade bodies.
The FBR granted the extension to encourage a large number of people to file their income tax returns,” sources told Customs Today while explaining logic behind repeated and frequent extension in deadlines for the filing of income tax returns.
The source said that the actual deadline for filing of returns for companies was extended to December 31, 2015 from June 30, 2015 during the previous fiscal year. However, on the request of taxpayers and trade bodies the date was extended up to January 21, 2016.
Similarly, for companies with tax year ending on December 31, 2014 the actual date for filing return was September 30, 2015, but it was extended up to January 21, 2016. Moreover, for salaried persons the actual date for filing return was August 31, 2015. The final cut off date was extended up to March 21, 2016.
However, the source said that for all other cases the actual date for filing return was September 30, 2015 and final cut off date was extended up to March 21, 2016.
In this regard the source shared a circulars issued by the FBR along with dates which showed the details of the extensions granted in filing of Income Tax Returns. Circular No 8 of 2015 fixed the due date of filing of return in case of Individual; AOP and Salaried person extended October 31, 2015. The date of filing of returns for companies whose tax year ends on December 31, 2014, extended up to October 31, 2015.
The circular no 11 of 2015 extended dates as mentioned in previous circular up to 30th November 30, 2015. The circular no 12 of 2015 extended dates in all categories mentioned in previous circular till December, 2015.
Then circular No 13 of 2015, extended dates of filing of returns up to January, 2016 for all taxpayers other than companies and circular no 1 of 2016 extended date of filing of return for companies up to January 21, 2016.
Another circular No 2 of 2016 extended dates as per circular No. 13 of 2015 for individuals and AOPs till February 29, 2016. Moreover, circular no 5 of 2016 extended date of filing returns for individuals and AOPs till March 21, 2016.