FBR targets untaxed online academies earning millions monthly 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is moving to tax private online academies and independent digital educators, aiming to bring high-earning but informal education platforms into the formal tax system. 

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial said some online academies are earning up to Rs20 crore a month without paying any taxes. “These platforms will now be brought under the tax net,” Langrial said in a statement. 

The new framework also applies to individual educators who earn income from online teaching or content monetisation. Their earnings will now be subject to personal income tax, according to the FBR. 

The move is part of Islamabad’s broader drive to boost tax compliance among high-income sectors operating outside the formal economy, as the government works to meet revenue targets under IMF guidelines. 

Separately, Punjab University’s Academic Staff Association has warned that cuts to higher education funding may leave public universities financially strained. The association urged the Punjab government to restore recurring grants and retain existing tax exemptions for faculty members. 

In another proposal under review, the government is considering taxing elite recreational clubs such as Islamabad Club on income that exceeds their expenses. The aim is to widen the tax base and reduce preferential treatment for high-income entities. 

These initiatives come as the government finalises its budget and sharpens efforts to improve tax collection across sectors that have long escaped scrutiny. 

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