Banks to stay open until 10pm today as Pakistan taxpayers rush to meet tax deadline
Customers visit a bank branch to submit tax payments in Karachi as commercial banks remain open until 10:00pm on September 30 to facilitate taxpayers ahead of the filing deadline.
Pakistan’s commercial bank branches will remain open until 10:00pm on Wednesday to facilitate taxpayers making over-the-counter payments ahead of the September 30 tax filing deadline, as authorities prepare to impose tougher penalties on non-compliant individuals and businesses from October 1.
The State Bank of Pakistan approved the extended banking hours at the request of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), allowing taxpayers additional time to deposit government duties and taxes through bank counters on the final day of filing and payment requirements.
The move comes as taxpayers race to complete income tax returns, registration requirements and pending payments before a revised enforcement regime takes effect.
Under the new framework, the FBR is ending the late-filer category from October 1, meaning individuals and businesses that miss the Sept. 30 deadline will be treated as non-filers and face significantly higher penalties.
Individuals who fail to submit tax returns could face penalties of up to PKR 25,000, compared with the existing PKR 1,000 fine. Penalties for associations of persons will rise to PKR 50,000 from PKR 10,000, while companies could face fines of up to PKR 100,000, up from PKR 20,000.
The Sept. 30 deadline also applies to businesses required to complete sales tax and income tax registration, according to tax officials.
The extension of banking hours is particularly important for taxpayers making over-the-counter payments, as proof of payment is often required to complete filing obligations before the deadline expires.
Separately, taxpayers filing under the government’s Asan Tax Scheme will face a staggered penalty structure for delayed submissions, with fines increasing over successive months after the deadline.
Pakistan has been tightening tax enforcement measures as part of broader efforts to improve compliance, expand the tax base and increase revenue collection under ongoing economic reform initiatives.
With only hours remaining before the deadline, tax officials have urged taxpayers to complete filing, registration and payment requirements to avoid higher penalties and non-filer status from October 1.
