KARACHI: As Pakistan’s economy is passing through a tough time, the government is in search of new sectors for collecting taxes. In this endeavor, it may impose a tax on freelancers and online content creators.
According to sources, 30% tax is planned for freelancers, if this happens then it will be a huge setback to the industry. Freelancers, E-commerce, and IT Exports are the ones who are bringing dollars to Pakistan.
Reacting to the news regarding taxing freelancers, the people related to this field have said: “The government has the right for taxing freelancers, we are certainly not the ones to run from it. Everyone in the online community should pay taxes and give proof of being a good citizen, but it is also the responsibility of the government to resolve our problems.
The government is going to impose a 30% tax on those freelancers who are the only source in the country for bringing dollars directly into the country while staying in Pakistan.
#30% TAX Na Manzoor— Bilal Bashir Khan (@BilalBashirKha1) June 7, 2022
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“Because of us dollars are coming to Pakistan and as per gov data it is $396 Million Freelancers Remittance and $21.9 Million Domestic Transactions,” they added.
Government should subsidise IT industry rather than imposing heavy taxes which can stunt the growth of IT in Pakistan.
30% tax na manzoor#saveITindustry— Muhammad Aitazaz (@MuhammadAitaza7) June 8, 2022
“We all know how important the internet is in today’s world. So, we must need these answers,”
1) Whether the government-regulates Internet service providers? What efforts are being taken to provide us with safe, secure, and fast-paced internet services?
2) Freelancers, Service Providers, and IT Experts are simple creatures whose entire world is our work desk inside a little room. And while working on it, we have managed to bring tons of dollars to Pakistan.
3) We have got permanent dark circles around our eyes from working days and nights and sitting in just one place all day has created havoc on our backs. We are literally breaking our backs for this country and this is the time to ease their life and encourage this industry more to fly.
“Government should be thinking to subsidize and ease their businesses instead of even thinking to put more taxes on them for the industry who is helping to bring dollars in Pakistan,” they concluded.
