Pakistan has not set a tax rate for crypto, and the 2026 budget did not add one. That does not mean crypto is untaxed. This guide sets out what is known, what is not, and what to keep in mind when you file.

Disclosure: Crypto Awaz, which publishes the help articles this piece draws on, is a community partner of Fintech Pakistan. We have rewritten the explanation in our own words and say where each point comes from. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Most of what follows comes from Crypto Awaz's tax guide. We have not opened the FBR documents it cites, and the Federal Board of Revenue has not published detailed written guidance on crypto that we could find. Treat this as a map, then confirm with a tax adviser.

The short version

  • There is no crypto-specific tax rate.

  • Crypto income is taxed under the existing Income Tax Ordinance, under whichever head fits what you do.

  • The Finance Act 2026, which took effect on 1 July 2026, added no dedicated crypto tax, according to Crypto Awaz.

What happened in the 2026 budget

Crypto Awaz says the government planned crypto provisions for FY2026-27 and reports, citing Profit on 9 June 2026, that PVARA wanted a lower rate while the FBR wanted a higher one. TechJuice reported that talk of a rate in the range of 10 to 20 per cent did not make it into the budget. We have not read either article. The Finance Act itself is on the FBR site.

How gains are likely to be treated

Because crypto is not named in the law, tax follows what you actually do. Crypto Awaz quotes an FBR official, reported by Arab News, as saying that mining is business income and that gains on selling crypto are capital gains. That is a reported remark, not a circular.

Its summary of the likely treatment:

What you do

Likely treatment

Frequent trading, P2P merchant work, paid signal groups, mining

Business income

Buying and holding, then selling occasionally

Capital gain

Staking, airdrops, referral bonuses

Unclear, with no FBR ruling

Only realised gains count. An unsold position is not income, although you may still need to declare it.

The wealth statement

Crypto Awaz says resident individuals who file a return also file a wealth statement on IRIS, and that crypto held on 30 June is an asset and belongs in it even if you have not sold it. It reports that there is no dedicated field for crypto, so people describe it under other assets or investments, for example "Virtual assets: 0.05 BTC and 500 USDT on Binance". It has not verified the field labels in IRIS, and advisers disagree on whether to value holdings at cost or at the 30 June price. Pick one method and use it consistently. Holdings on foreign platforms may also need to appear in the foreign assets statement, so ask your adviser.

What banks now report

Crypto Awaz says the Finance Act 2026 added a requirement (section 165AB) for banks and e-money institutions to send information to the FBR's Central Data Hub when an account holder's deposits or withdrawals exceed PKR 100 million in a reporting period, covering all of that person's accounts. FBR Circular No. 02 of 2026-27 is cited for it. We have not read either. Large flows can be matched against your tax return, so your return should explain them. For what happens when a bank freezes an account, see what to do if your account is blocked after a P2P trade.

Keep records

This is general good practice, and it matches what Crypto Awaz advises:

  • Download full trade histories every year.

  • Record the rupee amount of each P2P trade, the counterparty and the bank reference.

  • Keep wallet addresses and transaction hashes for transfers between your own wallets.

  • Use one method for working out cost, and keep it the same each year.

  • Keep records for several years. The FBR can reopen earlier years.

Common mistakes

  • Not declaring holdings you have not sold.

  • Trusting viral tax rates such as 12.5, 15 or 20 per cent, which have no source.

  • Counting unrealised gains as profit.

  • Mixing personal money with money used for P2P trading in one account.

For where crypto stands under Pakistani law more broadly, read is crypto legal in Pakistan.