ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on elite and social media influencers for evading tax.
The Lifestyle Monitoring Cell of the FBR has marked dozens of Pakistani individuals living beyond their declared means — driving luxury cars, flaunting expensive brands, and vacationing abroad — while declaring little to no taxable income.
According to FBR high-ups, a large-scale nationwide tax audit campaign is underway to uncover undeclared income and hidden assets.
Lavish lifestyle, negligible income
According to sources, a private company owner in Lahore is currently under investigation. Despite owning several luxury cars valued at Rs2.74 billion, the individual’s declared income remains negligible.
FBR officials said that such cases triggered detailed tax audits aimed at exposing discrepancies between actual wealth and reported income.
Social media influencers under scrutiny
The FBR campaign also encompasses social media influencers who are under the radar for living lavishly while paying minimal taxes.
Officials said many influencers frequently travel abroad, use high-end luxury brands, and display a wealthy lifestyle on social media but their tax returns reflect only modest earnings.
They said these individuals are now being monitored through digital profiling and financial data tracking.
The FBR has directed all Regional Tax Offices to take immediate steps against suspected tax dodgers. Officials said that the campaign will continue until full accountability is achieved.
Around 5.9 million tax returns
Around 5.9 million tax returns have been filed so far, but officials believe that many taxpayers are still hiding their real income and underreporting assets.
