Step-by-step

How to File an Income Tax Return in Pakistan

Follow the FBR IRIS process: check the deadline, prepare documents, file the return and wealth statement, reconcile tax, and save proof.

15 min read
Official IRIS workflow
Open IRIS
1

Income tax return filing deadlines

FBR lists 30 September as the ordinary due date for individuals and AOPs, and 31 December for companies. Extensions can be announced by notification, so confirm the date for your tax year before filing.

Check the current due date on FBR

Before you start

Identity & access

Have your CNIC/NTN, IRIS login and active email/mobile ready.

Income & tax paid

Gather salary certificates, business records and withholding evidence.

Assets & liabilities

List bank balances, property, vehicles, investments and loans.

Documents checklist

  • Salary certificates
  • Property and vehicle details
  • Bank statements
  • Investment statements
  • Withholding evidence
  • Donation / pension evidence
  • Business accounts
  • Prior-year return and wealth statement

File in IRIS: 7 clear steps

  1. 1

    Sign in and choose the tax year

    Log in to IRIS, choose the correct tax year and verify your personal details.

  2. 2

    Open the income tax return

    Select the applicable return for your taxpayer type and start a new return.

  3. 3

    Report every source of income

    Declare salary, business, property, capital gains and other income that applies.

  4. 4

    Enter deductions, credits and tax withheld

    Claim eligible relief and reconcile each withholding entry with your evidence.

  5. 5

    Complete assets, liabilities and wealth reconciliation

    Complete the wealth statement and explain the movement in your closing wealth.

  6. 6

    Review tax payable and create payment if needed

    Review IRIS calculations and create the required payment before submission.

  7. 7

    Submit and save the acknowledgements

    Submit the return and wealth statement, then download proof of completion.

Return + wealth statement

For individual filers, both documents must be completed. Your closing wealth should reconcile with opening wealth, income, expenses, gifts, transfers and other movements.

Wealth reconciliation made understandable

Opening wealth
Income and inflows
Expenses and outflows
Closing wealth

Example (amounts in PKR)

Opening
PKR 3,000,000
Net additions
PKR 600,000
Closing
PKR 3,600,000

Before you press Submit

  • Correct tax year selected
  • All income heads included
  • Withholding matches evidence
  • Assets and liabilities complete
  • Payment cleared if tax is due
  • Preview saved for your records

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using the wrong tax year
  • Missing bank or withholding entries
  • Wealth statement does not reconcile
  • Submitting without saving proof

After filing

  1. 1

    Download acknowledgement

    Save the return and wealth statement acknowledgements.

  2. 2

    Confirm submission status

    Check IRIS for “Completed Task” status for both documents.

  3. 3

    Keep return, wealth statement and receipts

    Store all proof, certificates and payment receipts.

  4. 4

    Check your ATL status

    Late filers may need to pay the applicable surcharge before ATL inclusion.

FBR says people with taxable income should retain income-tax return records for six years.

Continue learning

Use these guides to strengthen your filing and tax-planning knowledge.