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Every company files its financial statements with its income tax return. From tax year 2026, those statements must be filed in an electronically readable format, so that FBR's systems can read and check them automatically. A PDF or a scanned copy no longer meets the requirement. The Finance Act 2026 wrote this into section 114(2A) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, and on 27 October 2026 FBR published draft rules, S.R.O. 1912(I)/2026, setting out how it will work on IRIS.
What the law says
| Provision | What it does |
|---|---|
| Section 2(19DA), Income Tax Ordinance (Finance Act 2026) | Defines an "electronically readable format": any digital format in which data is structured so that computer systems can read, extract, validate and process it automatically. It includes CSV, XLSX, XML, XBRL and JSON, and excludes formats designed mainly for human reading, such as PDF, scanned images and photographs. |
| Section 114(2A), proviso (Finance Act 2026) | For companies, from tax year 2026, the financial statements accompanying the return may only be filed in an electronically readable file format. |
| Draft rule 73(2F), Income Tax Rules (S.R.O. 1912(I)/2026) | The financial statements are to be furnished through IRIS only in that format, following the data scheme, taxonomy, file structure, field mapping, validation rules and other technical specifications FBR makes available on IRIS or its web portal. FBR may set different specifications for different classes of companies, according to the financial reporting framework that applies to them. |
| Draft rule 73(3), Income Tax Rules (S.R.O. 1912(I)/2026) | Anything filed through IRIS is verified by digital signature or other secure electronic authentication linked to the person's registered credentials, or by an e-intermediary where permitted. After successful transmission and validation, IRIS issues an electronic acknowledgement with a unique reference number, which is evidence of filing. |
The rules are still a draft. FBR has invited objections and suggestions within seven days of the draft's publication in the official Gazette. The requirement in section 114(2A) is already law.
What changes in practice
- The accounts become data. Filing a PDF or scanned copy of the financial statements with the return will not meet the requirement.
- Your figures must fit FBR's fields. Once FBR publishes its taxonomy and field mapping, the line items in your financial statements will need to be mapped to them.
- The template may depend on your framework. FBR may set different specifications for companies reporting under full IFRS, IFRS for SMEs or the AFRS for small-sized entities, so check which framework applies to your company.
- The file must validate. IRIS issues its acknowledgement only after successful transmission and validation, so leave time to fix errors before the deadline.
How to prepare
- Confirm your tax year and filing date: 31 December 2026 for a company with a 30 June 2026 year end
- Confirm the financial reporting framework your company uses
- Keep the final trial balance and financial statements in structured form, such as XLSX, and not only as a signed PDF
- Watch IRIS and FBR's website for the final rule and the technical specifications
- Map your chart of accounts and financial statement line items to FBR's fields as soon as they are published
- Make sure the person who will authenticate the filing has working IRIS credentials, or agree who your e-intermediary will be
- Plan a test upload well before the deadline, and keep the IRIS acknowledgement with its unique reference number
For the rest of the yearly cycle, see our annual corporate compliance checklist.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can a company still attach a PDF of its accounts to its tax return?
Not for tax year 2026 onwards. Section 114(2A) of the Income Tax Ordinance requires a company's financial statements to be filed with the return only in an electronically readable file format, and section 2(19DA) excludes PDF, scanned images and photographs.
Which formats count as electronically readable?
The Ordinance gives CSV, XLSX, XML, XBRL and JSON as examples, along with other structured or semi-structured formats. FBR's draft rule 73(2F) adds that the file must follow the data scheme, taxonomy and technical specifications FBR publishes on IRIS.
When does a company with a 30 June year end have to file?
Under section 118 of the Ordinance, a company whose tax year ends between 1 January and 30 June files by 31 December following the year end. For a 30 June 2026 year end, that is 31 December 2026.
This guide is general information based on the law as we understand it on the date shown, not advice for your situation. Tax rules change often — please speak to us before acting on it. See our disclaimer.