Digital income via social media apps is now being tracked by the FBR

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated measures to levy income tax on profits made via social media channels, according to ARY News. The FBR has outlined a mechanism for capturing revenue from digital sources and has requested specialist input, providing a seven-day window for stakeholders to offer their insights.

Once this one-week duration concludes, the definitive tax enforcement structure will be launched. In the interim, all submitted grievances and recommendations will undergo evaluation. The levy on digital content revenue will be administered via a specialized protocol under Section 99-C. 

Per FBR representatives, both domestic citizens and international creators profiting from Pakistani audiences and followers will be obligated to settle tax dues. 

Digital creators maintaining a minimum of 50,000 followers will henceforth be categorized as commercial enterprises. Additionally, hitting a threshold of 12,500 views in any three-month period will be deemed a commercial venture for taxation. 

FBR authorities have recommended a YouTube revenue baseline, suggesting that a rate of Rs 195 per 1,000 views serve as the official metric for tax calculations. Previously, the FBR Collectorate of Customs Appraisement & Enforcement in Quetta effectively exceeded its financial collection goals for the third quarter. Based on FBR data, the collectorate amassed a remarkable Rs 9.4 billion, significantly outpacing the projected Rs 7.36 billion objective. Even with logistical hurdles caused by Middle Eastern instability, Pakistan Customs delivered strong results by keeping trade corridors open. 

The agency guaranteed the steady processing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other critical imported goods. Moreover, export activities via the Taftan gateway stayed completely functional, as the collectorate offered extensive support to facilitate trade with Iran and various Central Asian nations.