Salaried class pays Rs91 billion tax, far exceeding real estate and retail sectors combined

Salaried individuals contributed Rs91 billion in income tax between July and August of fiscal 2026-27, according to Profit by Pakistan Today. That sum is more than double the Rs40 billion gathered from real estate, wholesalers and retailers together. Salaried collections rose by Rs6.3 billion, a 7.5% increase on the same period last year.

Receipts from the real estate sector dropped 29% to Rs28 billion, down from Rs39.4 billion a year earlier. Withholding tax from wholesalers and retailers totalled Rs12 billion, with a fall of Rs440 million or 3.5%. Budget changes merged property sale slabs into one 2.75% rate, down from 5.5%, and halved the purchase rate to 1.25%.

The salaried class received about Rs52 billion in relief through lower rates, removal of a 9% surcharge and a higher income threshold for the top 35% slab. Separately, FBR revenue fell Rs27 billion short of its August goal, and its growth was nearly flat. Last fiscal year, the FBR gathered Rs13.01 trillion, roughly 11% more than the year before.