Cryptocurrencies Outside FBR’s Tax Net: FTO

Cryptocurrencies remain outside the tax net due to the absence of proper laws under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to regulate the digital currency, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah said. In an awareness session held with the business community in Islamabad, FTO Coordinator Saif-ur-Rehman said a complainant drew attention to the growing scale of crypto adoption in Pakistan, which is now the sixth-largest adopter of cryptocurrency globally. The complainant expressed willingness to pay taxes on crypto earnings, but noted that FBR lacks the necessary rules and procedures to facilitate such taxation. In its response, the FBR Policy Wing acknowledged that cryptocurrency is a relatively new domain and was under review, but a formal reply would be issued after consultation with relevant agencies. However, the FTO criticized FBR for its neglect, inattention, and incompetence toward cryptocurrencies. The FTO emphasized that large-scale commercial activity in crypto continues to occur outside the tax system due to FBR’s lack of preparedness, and it also noted with concern that tax authorities chose to challenge FTO’s jurisdiction instead of recognizing its initiative to address the issue. The ombudsman said that cryptocurrency is now firmly rooted in Pakistan, with the local crypto market projected to reach $1.6 billion and the number of users expected to grow to 27.1 million this year. FTO has directed the FBR to engage the complainant and all relevant stakeholders and to ensure that a proper regulatory and tax framework for cryptocurrency is incorporated in the upcoming Finance Bill.