The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for submitting online VAT returns for the January 2026 tax period, citing a long government holiday and technical disruptions in the e-Challan system.
According to a notification issued on Sunday, from the Revenue Building in Agargaon, VAT returns for January can now be submitted through the e-VAT system until February 22.
The notification said the deadline was extended in the public interest under Section 64(1Ka) of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012.
NBR sources said government activities remained limited for several days due to Shab-e-Barat and the 13th National Parliamentary Election. In addition, many taxpayers failed to submit their returns on time as the JTP server of the e-Chalan system was down on February 15.
Considering the situation, the deadline was extended to protect taxpayers from inconvenience.
At present, all VAT-registered businesses are required to submit monthly returns online. Since the introduction of the e-VAT system, return submission, tax payment and invoice management have been conducted digitally.
However, taxpayers often face difficulties due to server and technical issues, especially toward the end of a tax period when system traffic increases and performance slows.
NBR officials said failure to submit returns within the prescribed time normally leads to late fees and financial penalties. The extension was granted to ensure that taxpayers are not penalised due to technical problems beyond their control.
The notification also clarified that the extension will apply only to the January 2026 tax period. Returns submitted by February 22 will be treated as filed on time and will not attract any late penalties.
Revenue sector stakeholders said strengthening system capacity and ensuring server stability have become critical as tax administration continues to shift to digital platforms.
Tax experts added that while the extended deadline offers temporary relief, long-term measures—such as upgrading the e-VAT platform, improving server infrastructure and ensuring reliable backup systems—are essential to build taxpayer confidence and streamline revenue collection.
