Federal MPs to stay in Canberra on Friday

Federal MPs will have to return to parliament on Friday to deal with legislation the government wants to rubber stamp before the budget.

The lower house usually adjourns on Thursday evenings but has instead been suspended until at least 9am on Friday.

It is waiting for the Senate to vote on a bill to cut company taxes, which - if changed or passed - will need to be accepted by the House of Representatives.

Senators are set to debate the legislation, along with controversial changes to race-hate laws, into the night.

Parliament does not reconvene until the budget on May 9.