An unexpected technical error by telecom operators triggered the circulation of outdated tax return reminders, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said on Monday.
Taxpayers reported receiving SMS alerts instructing them to file their income tax returns for Tax Year 2025 before the September 30, 2025 deadline — a date that has already passed.
The FBR explained that, as per routine practice, it had requested the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on 15 September 2025 to dispatch customised reminders ahead of the statutory deadline, and all authorised messages were issued before September 30.
However, the FBR noted that the recent SMS messages were not initiated by the department.
“Upon inquiry, it has been confirmed that FBR did not authorise these messages. They appear to have been transmitted inadvertently by telecom service providers due to a technical glitch,” the board said.
The PTA has also confirmed that the erroneous alerts resulted from a system malfunction on the part of telecom operators.
The FBR said it is examining the issue and has asked the PTA to work with relevant telecom companies to ensure a swift resolution.
