B Mirror Report:  The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for submitting online VAT returns for the January 2026 tax period through its e-VAT system until February 22 in the public interest.

An official order said the decision was taken due to an extended period of government holidays centring on Holy Shab-e-Barat and the 13th National Parliamentary election, which curtailed business activities and hampered compliance efforts.

Taxpayers also encountered additional complications on February 15 after the OTP server of the e-Challan system went down, leaving many unable to complete their return filings within the stipulated time.

Considering these circumstances, the revenue authority invoked its legal authority under Section 64 (1A) of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, to grant extra time for submission of returns. The move is intended to ensure that businesses and VAT-registered entities are not penalised for delays beyond their control.

Officials noted that the extended deadline would facilitate a smoother filing process following disruptions caused by the holidays and technical glitches.

The NBR has called upon all VAT-registered taxpayers to make proper use of the extended timeframe and submit their January 2026 returns within the revised deadline to avoid penalties and maintain compliance with tax regulations.