The salaried class played a significant role in withholding tax contributions, amounting to Rs265.745 billion from July to December 2024-25. This marks a 59.2% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, when the contribution stood at Rs166.924 billion.
According to data from the Federal Board of Revenue, withholding tax collected from contracts under Section 153 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001—covering payments for goods, services, and contracts—totaled Rs299.267 billion, reflecting a 25.2% growth.
During the same period, withholding tax from bank interest and securities, categorized under Section 151 (profit on debt) of the ordinance, reached Rs255.352 billion, an increase of 16.2%.
Withholding tax collections from imports also saw growth, rising by 7.6% to Rs203 billion in the first half of 2024-25, compared to Rs189.349 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Key contributors to domestic sales tax during this period included electrical energy, which generated Rs283 billion—a 53.5% increase—followed by cement at Rs48.275 billion (47.7% increase), sugar at Rs58.957 billion (26.4% increase), cotton yarn at Rs43.389 billion (37.2% increase), and motor cars at Rs14.848 billion.
Sales tax collected at the import stage also showed significant contributions from various sectors. Photosensitive semiconductors led with Rs98.732 billion, recording a substantial 112.7% increase. Petroleum products generated Rs166 billion, marking a 12% rise. Machinery contributed Rs72 billion (19.6% increase), while vehicles other than railways accounted for Rs61 billion in sales tax at the import stage.
