Pakistan’s commercial banks will extend their branch working hours until 10:00pm on Wednesday, September 30, to facilitate taxpayers making over-the-counter payments of government duties and taxes on the final day of the tax return deadline.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced the extended banking arrangements following a request from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The move is intended to provide taxpayers with additional time to complete payments linked to government duties and taxes before the September 30 cutoff. Under the arrangement, commercial banks will keep all their branches operational until 10:00pm, allowing customers to make required payments through over-the-counter banking services after regular branch hours.
The central bank has also instructed banks to keep relevant branches open for as long as necessary to support special clearing arrangements for government transactions carried out through the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT). This additional arrangement is aimed at ensuring that government-related transactions processed on the final day are accommodated through the banking and clearing infrastructure without being constrained by normal branch timings.
Alongside the extended physical banking hours, the SBP has directed banks to maintain uninterrupted access to digital payment channels. Customers will continue to have access to internet banking, mobile applications, automated teller machines (ATMs) and other digital platforms for making payments of government duties and taxes. The direction provides taxpayers with multiple payment options as the deadline approaches, including channels that do not require customers to visit a bank branch.
September 30 is the deadline for filing income tax returns in Pakistan for the relevant tax year. The extension of branch hours comes as taxpayers and businesses complete their filing and payment requirements ahead of the cutoff. By keeping branches open until late in the evening and maintaining digital payment services, banks are expected to accommodate customers who need to settle government payments on the final day.
The banking arrangements also follow calls from the business community for additional time to complete income tax return requirements. On Monday, September 28, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), called on the government and FBR to extend the income tax return filing deadline by one month. He proposed moving the deadline from September 30 to October 31, 2026, citing the need to provide additional time to trade, industry and other taxpayers.
The latest banking directive does not itself change the tax return deadline. Instead, it provides extended banking access on September 30 for taxpayers who need to make government duty and tax payments. The arrangements cover both physical banking services and digital channels, while special clearing support is being maintained for government transactions processed through NIFT.
The decision highlights the role of Pakistan’s banking infrastructure in supporting tax collection and government payment activity during statutory deadlines. With commercial branches operating until 10:00pm and online payment channels remaining available, taxpayers have additional avenues to complete payment-related requirements on the final day of the September tax deadline.
Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.