Published on, Sept. 28 -- September 28, 2025 2:12 PM

ISLAMABAD: Concerns are rising within Pakistan's tax authorities that the country's income tax system is failing to capture the true wealth of its citizens, as nearly half of taxpayers continue to declare nil incomes despite maintaining lavish lifestyles, Dawn has learned from official sources.

As of June 30, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had received 5.9 million income tax returns for the 2024 tax year, with almost half of these filings reporting zero income. Early data for 2025 indicates a similar trend, with more than 40 percent of taxpayers declaring nil income as of September 27.

Officials noted a stark mismatch between declared income and lifestyle, pointing to taxpayers l...