In yet another deadline shift, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has extended the submission date for Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty returns for the month of June 2025. Businesses now have until August 8, 2025 to file their returns—provided that all due taxes were deposited on time.
This latest extension comes just days after the previous cutoff of August 4, which itself had been moved from the original deadline of July 18.
Extended Deadline, but Only If You Paid On Time
According to a circular dispatched to Inland Revenue chiefs across Large, Medium, Corporate, and Regional Tax Offices, the FBR emphasized that this grace period only applies to filers who met their payment obligations within the original due date. The filing relief does not absolve late payments or missed tax deposits.
The decision was made under the FBR’s authority granted by Section 74 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, and Section 43 of the Federal Excise Act, 2005, which allow the department to modify statutory timelines.
A Pattern of Delays
This marks yet another entry in a recurring pattern of extensions by the FBR—often interpreted as a response to backend system inefficiencies or pressure from taxpayer bodies. While the move may offer short-term breathing room for filers, it also raises questions about the FBR’s long-term capacity to streamline its tax administration processes.
With increased scrutiny from international institutions and rising pressure for tax compliance reforms, such deadline extensions could further complicate the already fraught relationship between tax authorities and the business community.
