If you have a social media account in Pakistan with 50,000 or more followers, the government now treats you as a business, and you must pay income tax on the money you earn.
You do not pay tax on all the money you make. First, the government allows you to subtract up to 30% of your total earnings to cover your business expenses. These expenses can include things like buying a camera, paying for internet, editing software, or any other costs that help you run your social media work. After you subtract the costs associated with your expenses, the amount that remains is your taxable income. You will need to pay a tax rate of 5% on this remaining amount.
For YouTubers, the government has set a minimum earning rate of Rs. 195 per 1,000 views. If your reported earnings are lower than this, tax officials will not simply accept your numbers. Instead, they will calculate your tax based on Rs. 195 per 1,000 views, whether you actually earned that much or not.
Instead of paying your taxes once at the end of the year, you must pay in four instalments, once every three months. On top of this, when you fill out your yearly tax return, there is now a separate section made specifically for social media income. You must fill this section out carefully and honestly, listing all your earnings from your online work.
Pakistan’s online workers, including YouTubers, freelancers, and digital creators, brought in nearly $1 billion from abroad in the 2025–26 financial year. Many creators are asking the government to be careful not to discourage this growing field with heavy taxes.
