The National Board of Revenue is likely to extend the deadline for submitting income tax returns by one month to December 31 amid a slower-than-expected mandatory online filing.

As of yesterday, only 16 lakh taxpayers had filed returns for the assessment year 2025-26, according to the NBR.

This number represents just 13 percent of the country's 1.24 crore taxpayer identification number (TIN) holders.

On condition of anonymity, a senior NBR official said, "We have already received requests from various stakeholders, including lawyers, businesspeople, and various professional bodies, to extend the existing November 30 deadline."

"We are considering at least a one-month extension. A formal order is expected shortly," he told The Daily Star.

When asked about the slow submission rate, the official said taxpayers are becoming accustomed to the online system. "This year, people are taking time to get used to the mandatory e-return filing."

He said submission numbers would ultimately rise, noting a typical year-end pattern.

"The final days usually see a surge in submissions. Every year, we notice a last-minute rush. So, overall submissions will cross last year's number during the extended time," he added.

This year, the revenue board made online return submission compulsory for almost all individual taxpayers. Last year, online filing was mandatory for government employees in several city corporations, along with staff at scheduled banks, mobile telecom operators, and large private firms.

Earlier, the revenue board extended the deadline for individual taxpayers to apply for paper returns until November 15, extending the earlier deadline of October 31.

Last year, 45 lakh taxpayers filed returns in total, more than triple the number filed so far this year.