ISLAMABAD: The FBR Lifestyle Monitoring Cell has detected over 20 cases of multimillion rupee assets, vehicles, frequent foreign visits and luxurious lifestyles but declaration of negligible assets in the income tax returns.
There are three classic cases of tax-dodging. In one case, an individual from southern Punjab owns 19 latest model vehicles valuing Rs624 million, but declared just one vehicle in the tax year 2020 with a declared value of one million rupees.
In the tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023, he declared a Toyota Yaris with a value of Rs3.075 million, but in tax year 2024 listed N/A for vehicle ownership.
The FBR has established the Lifestyle Monitoring Cell in the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) of Inland Revenue with the mandate to scrutinize those who display their lifestyle on the social media but contribute negligibly to the national kitty by declaring and paying their taxes.
The intelligence reports have been shared with the respective Regional Taxpayer Office (RTO) across Pakistan, and legal proceedings for action have already begun for the recovery of taxes.
According to details, a digital content creator and travel vlogger engaged in frequent luxury international travels during the tax years from 2020 to 2025. In 2020, he travelled to Seychelles (a tropical island vacation), but in 2021, no international travel was recorded (likely due to Covid-19 restrictions).
In 2022, he did multiple trips, including the UAE (Dubai), the Philippines, Spain, and the Netherlands. In tax year 2023, he traveled to Turkey, the United Kingdom (UK), the Maldives, and Georgia. In 2024, there was extensive travelling across Europe and the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia (multiple visits, possibly for pilgrimage or events), Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, France, Belgium (to attend the Tomorrowland music festival), and Switzerland.
In 2025, he visited Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Saudi Arabia, France, Austria, and the Czech Republic. On scrutiny of his filed returns, the FBR found that he had declared an income of Rs490,800 with declared expenses of Rs390,000 and possessing net assets of Rs1,090,800 despite evidence of spending on luxury vacations in Seychelles.
In Tax Year 2021, the declared income was shown at Rs541,880 with declared expenses of Rs385,000 and by year end his net assets were Rs1,232,680 but there was no evidence of travel because of Covid restrictions.
In 2022, the declared income stood at Rs564,040 and declared expenses were standing at Rs396,000 and net assets were hovering around Rs1,387,720. In 2023, the declared income was standing at Rs784,600 but the expenses were shown at Rs480,000 and net assets were shown at Rs1,672,320 by year end.
In tax year 2024, the declared income in filed returns was showed at Rs816,800 but the expenses incurred to the tune of Rs504,000 while net assets remained at Rs1,929,120 by year end despite evidence of multiple visits abroad. This shows grossly concealed income.
In the second case, the Lifestyle Monitoring Cell found concealed assets of Rs180,500,000 (Rs180.5 million). This individual belongs to a political family from Southern Punjab. According to the publicly available evidence, he owns four vehicles of high value but did not declare them in his tax returns and those in use of his father.
He owns Lexus LX 570 -- Flagship luxury SUV Model 2019 having estimated market value of Rs80 million, Toyota Fortuner Legender SUV with value of Rs15 million, Suzuki Hayabusa (2021) High performance Super bike of value of Rs5.5 million, BMW i7 Electric luxury Sedan with market value of Rs80 million.
The taxpayer was registered on 12-01-23. In tax year 2023, only two motorcycles were declared including a BMW M1000 RR (Rs14.2 million) and a BMW R1250GS (Rs9.28 million). The total declared value stands at Rs31.28 million.
In tax year 2024, the same motorcycle (BMW M1000RR) was declared in the returns and the BMW 1250GS was not listed.
Investigations show that the taxpayer reported just a negligible part of his actual observable assets and did not disclose the sources of funds used to purchase the concealed vehicles. This pattern strongly suggests tax-evasion.
In the third case, the value of concealed assets is estimated at Rs624 million. The FBR has found evidence that the taxpayer possessed and used 19 vehicles including sports cars, luxury SUVs, off road trucks, motorcycles and an ATV.
The FBR’s Lifestyle Monitoring Cell has found that the taxpayer possessed and used Chevrolet Corvette C8 (Stingray) 2020 model having market value of Rs80 million, Yamaha Raptor 700R ATV high performance all terrain quad bike (700cc) with market value of Rs6.5 million, Harley-Davidson Pan America luxury adventure touring motorcycle (1250cc) with value of Rs15 million, Honda CD200 Roadmaster with value of Rs0.5 million, Chevrolet Silverado value of Rs40 million, Toyota Hilux Revo (2 units, 2.4L diesel) double cabin with value of Rs40 million, Toyota FJ Cruiser Rs15 million, Ford F-150 Raptor Rs70 million, Toyota Land Cruiser 70-series Rs5 million, Toyota Land Cruiser 70-Series Pickup Rs4 million, Toyota 4Runner (4X4 SUV) Rs60 million, Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series Rs90 million, Range Rover Rs80 million, Audi Q7 Rs30 million, Toyota Tundra Rs25 million, Toyota Tacoma Rs15 million, Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series Rs40 million, Toyota Land Cruiser 100-Series Rs25 million and Mercedes Benz (Sedan) Rs9 million.
The FBR has found that none of these luxury vehicles appear in the taxpayer’s wealth statement. When this reporter contacted the Monitoring Cell in-charge, he said investigations were underway against the potential tax-dodgers but they could not close their identity under the income tax obligations.
