South Asia · Asia

Pakistan

44limited

Overall Score

Pakistan is a South Asia jurisdiction. with a standard worldwide income tax regime applicable to tax residents. Corporate profits are taxed at 29%.

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Corporate Tax

29%

Personal Income Tax

35%

Capital Gains

15%

VAT / GST

18%

Overview

Key Data

Taxation

Personal Income Tax (max)35%

Personal Income Tax (min)0%

Corporate Tax Rate29%

Capital Gains Tax15%

VAT / GST18%

Dividend Tax Rate15%

Withholding Tax15%

Territorial TaxationNo

Foreign Income Exempt—

Remittance-Based Tax—

CFC RulesNo

Tax Residency Days183 days/year

Tax Treaties—

Residency & Visa

Digital Nomad VisaNo

Golden VisaNo

Retirement VisaNo

Investment VisaNo

EU MemberNo

Schengen AreaNo

EU PassportNo

Min. Days Required / Year—

Min. Monthly Income—

Min. Investment (residency)—

Citizenship Path—

Setup Difficulty—

Business & Cost of Living

Cost of Living Index22/100

Avg. Monthly Cost—

Company Formation Time—

Formation Cost (est.)—

Annual Compliance Cost—

Free Zone AvailableNo

Banking Easemoderate

Internet Qualitymoderate

Compliance & Reputation

FATF Statuscompliant

EU Blacklist Statusnot_listed

OECD Compliance—

CRS Participant—

FATCA Compliant—

BEPS Participant—

Treaty Network Quality—

Personal Tax Residency

Tax residency in Pakistan is generally triggered by physical presence exceeding 183 days in a calendar year. Foreign income treatment: unknown. No statutory CFC rules apply, which can facilitate the use of foreign holding structures without automatic income attribution.

FATF grey list removed June 2022. Growing IT sector; freelancers in IT: 0.25% on export remittances (very favourable). Corporate 29%. Tech Special Economic Zone Authority (STZA) incentives. Very low cost of living. Political instability (Imran Khan jailed 2023). Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad tech hubs.

Company Setup & Business Taxation

The standard corporate income tax rate is 29%. Establishing a legal presence here involves a higher degree of administrative complexity, often requiring local legal assistance.

Banking & Financial Access

Banking access in Pakistan is attainable but may require more documentation and time than in simpler jurisdictions. Internet infrastructure is developing. Speed and reliability can vary by location and should be assessed for business-critical operations.

Compliance & International Reputation

Pakistan is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and meets its anti-money-laundering standards. EU tax blacklist status: not_listed. Structures involving this jurisdiction may attract additional scrutiny or reporting obligations under EU member state rules.

Who This Jurisdiction Works Best For

Based on our scoring model, Pakistan ranks highest for Digital Nomad and Freelancer. It offers a reasonable proposition for digital nomad (score: 47/100). It offers a reasonable proposition for freelancer (score: 46/100). It scores lower for digital nomad and freelancer and founder / entrepreneur and high net worth individual, who may find other jurisdictions more suitable for their specific requirements.

Legal Notice

The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Tax laws and residency rules change frequently and vary significantly by individual circumstances. Always consult a qualified professional licensed in the relevant jurisdictions before making any decisions.