ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has established seven Regional Lifestyle Monitoring Teams (RLMTs) across Pakistan to investigate individuals who showcase extravagant lifestyles on social media but report minimal taxes, according to The News.
Comprising 36 officers and support staff, the teams will operate in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, and Hyderabad, cross-referencing taxpayers’ online displays of wealth with their declared income and tax records.
Under FBR’s new guidelines, the teams will gather intelligence on high-spending individuals and obtain clearance from the Director General, Intelligence & Investigation (I&I IRS) before conducting detailed checks.
The initiative—spearheaded by FBR’s Lifestyle Monitoring Cell—involves scanning social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn to identify influencers, celebrities, business owners, and professionals whose public spending appears inconsistent with their tax filings.
Officials said digital profiles will be created for suspected individuals, potentially leading to Preliminary Information Reports (PIROs) and formal investigations under the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, and Sales Tax Act, 1990.
The move marks a major push to curb tax evasion and undeclared income, reflecting FBR’s growing focus on digital intelligence and lifestyle-based tax enforcement in Pakistan.
