Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reported a notable rise in income tax return filings for the Tax Year 2025, signaling an increase in voluntary compliance and taxpayer awareness across Pakistan. As of October 31, 2025, the number of tax returns filed reached 5.9 million, up from 5 million during the same period last year, reflecting a 17.6 percent increase.

Among these filings, 3.6 million taxpayers submitted returns with accompanying tax payments, marking an 18.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. The individual taxpayer contributions saw a growth of nearly PKR 9 billion, rising from PKR 60 billion to PKR 69 billion, which indicates a 15 percent increase in tax payments from individuals.

The FBR attributes this growth to a comprehensive outreach campaign in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Information. Efforts included nationwide robocalls, WhatsApp messages, and behaviorally informed communications to remind citizens of their civic responsibilities and guide them through the filing process using digital platforms.

Additionally, targeted emails were sent to around 70,000 taxpayers, encouraging accurate and timely filings by highlighting income levels of comparable peers. The outreach initiatives have been met with a positive response from the public, with the current figures reported as of 7:00 p.m. today. The FBR anticipates further increases in filings by the midnight deadline.

The Prime Minister’s directive has been to not grant a blanket extension on the filing deadline, although taxpayers experiencing genuine difficulties can request an extension through the FBR’s IRIS system.

The FBR acknowledges the cooperation of citizens and remains committed to enhancing tax processes through improved digital tools and communication, aiming for a fairer and more transparent tax system.