Pakistan Crypto Capital Gains Tax: Why 15% Stays and No Move to 0% 19 Oct
by Danya Henninger - 15 Comments

Pakistan Crypto Tax Calculator

Calculate Your Crypto Capital Gains Tax

Based on Pakistan's 15% flat rate capital gains tax

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Important Notes

15% flat rate applies to all crypto-to-fiat transactions under Pakistan's Virtual Assets Ordinance.

Transactions under ₨50,000 may be ignored by tax authorities but still require reporting.

Capital gains tax applies only when converting crypto to Pakistani rupees (not for crypto-to-crypto swaps).

File on Form IT-1 by September 30th for the fiscal year ending June 30.

There’s a buzzing rumor that Pakistan plans to drop its 15% crypto capital gains tax to zero. The truth? The 15% flat rate is still the law, and the zero‑percent idea is pure speculation. This guide breaks down what the tax actually looks like, who has to pay, how to report, and what might change down the line.

What the law says today

Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Ordinance a July 2025 decree that formalised crypto regulation for the first time introduced a flat 15% capital gains tax on any profit earned when you sell a cryptocurrency for fiat. The rate applies uniformly-there is no short‑term vs long‑term split, no tiered brackets, and no exemption for small‑scale trades below ₨50,000 (though transactions under that amount are often ignored by the tax authority).

Who actually pays the 15% CGT

  • Individual traders: Any profit from converting crypto to rupees triggers the 15% CGT.
  • Miners and stakers: Income from mining, staking rewards, or payments in crypto is treated as regular income and taxed according to Pakistan’s progressive income‑tax slabs (5% - 35%).
  • Businesses: Companies dealing in crypto face the standard corporate tax of 29% on net profits.

For crypto‑to‑crypto swaps, no capital gains tax is levied because there’s no fiat conversion. However, if you later cash out, the original purchase price becomes the cost basis for the 15% CGT calculation.

How to report your crypto gains

Reporting is done through the annual Form IT‑1 the standard tax return used by the Federal Board of Revenue. The filing deadline is September 30 for the fiscal year ending June 30. Key steps:

  1. Gather every transaction where you sold crypto for rupees.
  2. Convert each sale and purchase price to PKR using the official exchange rate on the transaction date.
  3. Calculate the gain (sale price - cost basis). Multiply the total gain by 15%.
  4. Enter the resulting tax liability in the “Capital Gains” section of Form IT‑1.

The Federal Board of Revenue Pakistan’s tax authority that enforces the crypto tax regime requires exchanges to submit transaction data starting mid‑2025, but many users still have to pull statements manually.

Person at home desk using a tax calculator app and filling out Form IT‑1 for crypto gains.

Tools that can save you time

Because tracking dozens of trades can take 15-20 hours per year, most traders turn to third‑party tax calculators. Popular options in Pakistan include:

  • Koinly an automated crypto tax platform that supports Pakistani exchange data.
  • CoinTracker another global tool that started supporting Pakistani users in July 2025.
  • Local exchange‑built calculators, like the one launched by Rain Exchange Pakistan’s leading domestic crypto platform in June 2025.

These tools pull trade data, apply the official exchange rates, and output the exact amount of tax you owe, easing the Form IT‑1 filing.

How Pakistan’s 15% rate stacks up globally

Crypto Capital Gains Tax Comparison (2025)
CountryRateHolding‑Period Treatment
Pakistan15% flatNo distinction
United States0%‑20% (income‑based)Long‑term (>1 yr) lower rates
Portugal0% (individuals)All holdings exempt
India30% + 1% TDSNo distinction
Thailand15% flatNo distinction

Compared with India’s 30% levy, Pakistan’s rate appears attractive. But unlike Portugal or the UAE, there is still a tax bite, and the lack of a long‑term incentive may deter institutional investors.

Where the "0%" myth comes from

Several community posts on Reddit’s r/PakistanCrypto in mid‑2025 claimed the government was planning a phased reduction to zero. The claim likely stemmed from two sources:

  • Draft proposals circulated by the Pakistan Crypto Council the advisory body formed after the IMF meeting in February 2025 that hinted at “future incentives for long‑term holders.”
  • Misinterpretation of the ₨50,000 exemption threshold, which some read as a “zero‑tax window.”

As of October 2025, neither the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) the regulator that replaced the Crypto Council in May 2025 nor the FBR have published any amendment lowering the CGT to 0%.

Sunrise over Islamabad with a scroll of key crypto tax takeaways and faint future tier ideas.

Potential changes on the horizon

While the law stays at 15% now, the regulatory landscape is fluid. Recent signals include:

  • Draft regulations released on October 1 2025 that mention “long‑term holding incentives,” though no rates are defined.
  • Comments from Deloitte Pakistan predicting a tiered system (10% for >1 yr, 5% for >2 yr) could appear in 2026.
  • The IMF’s staff report (October 2025) expresses “cautious optimism” but warns of implementation risk, implying the government may tweak the rate to balance revenue with market growth.

Until an official amendment is gazetted, treat the 15% flat rate as permanent.

Key takeaways for Pakistani crypto users

  • The tax is a flat 15% on fiat‑realised gains; there is no plan to drop to 0% in the current law.
  • All profits must be reported on Form IT‑1 by September 30.
  • Use tax‑calc tools (Koinly, CoinTracker, or exchange calculators) to avoid manual errors.
  • Watch for upcoming PDAA drafts-if a tiered system arrives, it will likely be announced publicly.
  • Keep detailed transaction records; the FBR still lacks a crypto‑specific form, so manual conversion is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 15% crypto capital gains tax going to be reduced to 0%?

No. The current law, enacted through the Virtual Assets Ordinance 2025, sets a flat 15% rate and no official amendment has been published to lower it to zero.

Do I need to pay tax on crypto‑to‑crypto swaps?

Swaps that never involve fiat are not subject to capital gains tax. Tax only applies when you convert crypto into Pakistani rupees.

How do I calculate the cost basis for crypto bought before the 2025 ordinance?

Use the purchase price in PKR on the acquisition date, applying the official exchange rate from that day. If the exchange rate isn’t published, the State Bank of Pakistan’s historical rates are accepted.

Are mining rewards taxed at the 15% CGT rate?

No. Mining income is treated as regular income and taxed according to the progressive personal‑income brackets (5%‑35%), not the capital gains rate.

What deadlines do I have to keep in mind?

The fiscal year ends June 30. The tax return (Form IT‑1) must be filed by September 30. Late filing incurs a 5% penalty on the due tax.

Bottom line: Pakistan’s crypto tax landscape is clear-15% CGT is here to stay for now. Stay up‑to‑date with PDAA announcements, keep meticulous records, and use a reliable tax calculator to stay compliant.

Danya Henninger

Danya Henninger

I’m a blockchain analyst and crypto educator based in Perth. I research L1/L2 protocols and token economies, and write practical guides on exchanges and airdrops. I advise startups on on-chain strategy and community incentives. I turn complex concepts into actionable insights for everyday investors.

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15 Comments

  • Prerna Sahrawat

    Prerna Sahrawat

    October 19, 2025 AT 09:36 AM

    The prevailing 15% levy, inscrutable to the casual investor, is carved from a legislative tapestry that emerged in July 2025.
    The fact that it eschews the nuance of holding periods, thereby rendering the temporal dimension of speculation moot, means every fiat‑realised profit, irrespective of the duration of the position, succumbs to the flat rate.
    Consequently, the myth of a forthcoming zero‑percent horizon is, upon scrupulous examination, nothing more than speculative echo chamber noise.
    One must appreciate that the Virtual Assets Ordinance was deliberately fashioned to ensure fiscal predictability for a nascent market.
    Predictability, however, does not equate to leniency; the 15% figure was calibrated against comparable regimes in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
    Moreover, the jurisdiction’s revenue exigencies, amplified by IMF stipulations, preclude any whimsical tax abatement.
    The draft proposals alluded to by the Pakistan Crypto Council merely whisper of “incentives” without delineating concrete rates.
    Such linguistic ambiguity is a tactical device to mollify market participants while preserving legislative flexibility.
    Pragmatically, traders should devote resources to meticulous record‑keeping, employing tools such as Koinly or CoinTracker to automate cost‑basis calculations.
    The imperative to convert all transactions into Pakistani rupees at the official exchange rate on the transaction date cannot be overstated.
    Failure to faithfully report during the September 30 deadline incurs a statutory penalty, compounding the tax liability.
    Conversely, businesses operating within the crypto sphere must reconcile their net profits against the corporate tax benchmark of 29%, a distinct yet equally binding obligation.
    From an international perspective, while Portugal luxuriates in a zero‑tax regime, Pakistan’s modestly lower floor still poses a competitive edge over India’s 30% surcharge.
    Yet the absence of a tiered long‑term holding discount may dissuade institutional capital, a nuance policymakers appear cognizant of.
    In sum, until a formal amendment is gazetted, the 15% regime endures, and the onus remains squarely on the taxpayer to navigate its intricacies with diligence.

  • Anna Kammerer

    Anna Kammerer

    October 19, 2025 AT 21:53 PM

    Sure, because the tax code is exactly what we need to make crypto fun again. Just file that Form IT‑1 and watch the 15% vanish like magic… not.

  • Mike GLENN

    Mike GLENN

    October 20, 2025 AT 10:23 AM

    While the 15% levy may feel steep, it actually offers a transparent baseline for all participants.
    By consolidating every fiat conversion into a single tax line, the regime sidesteps the quagmire of tiered brackets.
    Leveraging a reputable tax calculator can shave hours off manual reconciliation.
    Remember, the cost‑basis is anchored to the official rate on the purchase date, not the spot price at the time of reporting.
    Staying ahead of the September deadline will spare you unnecessary penalties.

  • BRIAN NDUNG'U

    BRIAN NDUNG'U

    October 20, 2025 AT 22:53 PM

    It is essential for every crypto enthusiast to approach tax compliance with disciplined rigor.
    Begin by aggregating all trade data from exchanges, then verify each conversion against the State Bank’s published rates.
    Submit the consolidated figures in the Capital Gains section of Form IT‑1 before the September 30 cutoff.
    By adhering to this structured routine, you not only honor regulatory expectations but also reinforce the credibility of Pakistan’s digital asset ecosystem.

  • Ryan Comers

    Ryan Comers

    October 21, 2025 AT 00:16 AM

    Why bother with discipline when the system is rigged? 🤦‍♂️💰

  • mike ballard

    mike ballard

    October 21, 2025 AT 01:40 AM

    Your sarcasm notwithstanding, the underlying architecture mandates a rigorous audit trail, employing APIs to ingest exchange ledgers into a normalized schema.
    Integrating such pipelines through ETL processes ensures compliance without manual entry errors.
    Moreover, leveraging blockchain analytics platforms can reconcile on‑chain events with off‑chain reporting requirements.

  • Molly van der Schee

    Molly van der Schee

    October 21, 2025 AT 15:33 PM

    Facing a 15% CGT can feel daunting, but consider it an opportunity to professionalize your crypto practice.
    By documenting each transaction meticulously, you build a resilient habit that pays off during tax season.
    Tools like Koinly streamline this journey, translating raw data into clean reports.
    Stay optimistic; the transparency ultimately benefits the broader community.

  • Mike Cristobal

    Mike Cristobal

    October 21, 2025 AT 16:56 PM

    It is a moral imperative to pay what you owe; evading taxes erodes public trust. ✅

  • Johanna Hegewald

    Johanna Hegewald

    October 22, 2025 AT 05:26 AM

    Just remember to use the official exchange rate on the day of each sale when filling out Form IT‑1.

  • Benjamin Debrick

    Benjamin Debrick

    October 22, 2025 AT 19:20 PM

    The fiscal architecture of Pakistan’s crypto regime, while ostensibly simplistic, is in fact a tapestry of interlocking statutes, each demanding meticulous attention,; consequently, any oversight-no matter how infinitesimal-can precipitate cascading penalties,; it is therefore incumbent upon the taxpayer to internalize the procedural chronology, from transaction capture through to final submission,; one must not conflate the capital gains tax with the corporate levy, for they operate on distinct bases,; furthermore, the temporal rigidity of the September 30 filing deadline leaves no latitude for procrastination,; finally, the overarching policy intent-to balance revenue generation with market vitality-must be acknowledged as the guiding principle behind the 15% flat rate.

  • Nikhil Chakravarthi Darapu

    Nikhil Chakravarthi Darapu

    October 22, 2025 AT 20:43 PM

    Your exposition, while elaborate, obscures the core requirement: report each fiat conversion using the official rate and meet the September deadline.

  • Tiffany Amspacher

    Tiffany Amspacher

    October 23, 2025 AT 09:13 AM

    The soul of a trader is tested not by market volatility but by the weight of statutory obligations.
    When the law declares a 15% tribute, it is both a burden and a beacon, urging us to reflect on our relationship with wealth.
    Embrace the paradox, and let it sculpt your discipline.

  • Lindsey Bird

    Lindsey Bird

    October 23, 2025 AT 10:36 AM

    Bravo, pure poetry in tax law!

  • john price

    john price

    October 23, 2025 AT 23:06 PM

    I dont see why we cant just ignore some of these crappy rules, the gov't wants our cash anyway and the whole system is rigged.
    If u think paying 15% is fair, u are living in a fantasy.
    Get real, be smart, and use the loopholes before they close them.

  • Ryan Steck

    Ryan Steck

    October 24, 2025 AT 00:30 AM

    They're planting backdoors in the tax software to track every crypto move, watch out.

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