Tag: FBR

A survey by the Press Network of Pakistan (PNP) reveals that most Pakistanis support the government’s proposed 5% withholding tax on social media influencers, agreeing that creators should contribute to the national tax system. However, respondents emphasized the need for a balanced approach, strongly favoring income-based exemptions for small creators and the implementation of government incentives to support digital entrepreneurship. While there is concern that the tax could discourage young talent, the public generally views this measure part of the Finance Bill 2026—as a necessary step to bring the growing digital economy into the formal tax net.

In the 2026-27 budget, the government has introduced a 20% reduction in regulatory duty on high-end imported mobile phones, effective July 1, 2026, which will lower costs by Rs. 14,000 per device. However, the FBR Chairman advises against broader duty cuts, arguing that premium imports are purchased by affluent consumers and that current tax structures are vital for revenue, with flagship phones contributing 58% of import tax revenue despite making up only 16% of units. Instead, the FBR is prioritizing support for the local assembly industry which serves 95% of the market and recommends that future tax relief be strictly limited to entry-level phones in the $31–$200 range to assist price-sensitive buyers.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has uncovered significant tax underreporting among high-net-worth individuals and property buyers during its review of the Finance Bill 2026. Financial data analysis revealed that approximately 8,697 individuals held collective bank deposits of PKR 750 billion while reporting zero taxable income. Furthermore, nearly 80 percent of top property buyers materially underreported their bank deposits in tax filings, and 98.9 percent of high-deposit individuals failed to accurately report their financial inflows. In response, the FBR is working to strengthen data integration with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to improve transaction monitoring and expand the tax base. Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has criticized past tax system "experiments," and the FBR has agreed to a proposed audit of policy actions taken over the last decade to help identify patterns of elite capture within the system.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued two new notifications revising the valuation rates of immovable properties downward in Lahore and Rawalpindi, aimed at reducing the tax burden on real estate transactions. This targeted adjustment follows a similar recent reduction in Islamabad, bringing the total number of Pakistani cities receiving FBR property valuation relief to eight. By adjusting these benchmarks closer to current economic realities, the move lowers accompanying capital gains and advance withholding taxes to revive momentum in the property sector.

The IMF Executive Board is scheduled to meet on May 8 to approve a $1.2 billion disbursement to Pakistan, following successful program reviews. This total includes $1 billion from the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $210 million from the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). While Pakistan has made significant progress in stabilizing its economy and meeting petroleum levy targets, the Fund continues to emphasize the need for phasing out fuel subsidies and broadening the tax base through digital reforms. The approval will bring total IMF disbursements under current arrangements to roughly $4.5 billion, providing a crucial boost to the country's foreign exchange reserves amidst global market volatility.

The Islamabad High Court has ruled that gains from the sale of immovable property must be taxed as capital gains under Section 37(1A) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, effectively barring tax authorities from reclassifying such profits as business income under Section 18. Setting aside a previous tribunal decision, the IHC emphasized that specific laws governing real estate disposals hold precedence over general business tax provisions, regardless of the taxpayer's level of activity in the sector. This judgment provides significant clarity for individual taxpayers, ensuring their property transactions are protected from the higher tax implications often associated with business income classifications.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a Rs 406.23 million tax demand against Faisal Town Pvt. Ltd. for alleged failures in withholding tax compliance during Tax Year 2023. The Large Taxpayer Office (LTO) Islamabad claims the developer failed to properly deduct or deposit taxes on property transactions and broker payments, creating transparency gaps in the high-value real estate venture. In response, Faisal Town has formally appealed the order, labeling it unlawful and legally groundless. The company argues that the FBR failed to identify specific defaulted transactions or payees and denied them a fair hearing before finalizing the demand. The case is now pending before the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals).

Pakistan met 3 of 5 IMF fiscal targets for its next $1B tranche, hitting primary surplus (PKR4.1T), provincial cash surplus (PKR1.18T), and tax revenue goals, boosted by SBP profits and PKR823B petroleum levy. FBR missed PKR6.49T collection by PKR330B and retail income tax target despite broader scope. Provinces led gains; federal spending hit PKR7.1T under $7B IMF program.

The FBR has officially increased property valuations in Islamabad by 15% to 75% via a new notification (SRO.163), though DHA areas remain notably excluded. The updated framework sets building values at Rs3,000 per sq. ft. for structures up to five years old and Rs1,500 for older ones. While rural areas will still follow DC rates, the FBR clarified that the higher value will always apply in case of a conflict. This revised policy follows a brief suspension of previous, more aggressive rates to accommodate feedback from real estate stakeholders.