The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has recorded a revenue shortfall of Rs. 457 billion in the first eight months (July-February) of the ongoing fiscal year, according to official documents.
The FBR collected Rs. 8.121 trillion in taxes during the stated period against a target of Rs. 8.55 trillion, a gap of Rs. 429 billion. Officials said the cumulative shortfall widened to Rs. 457 billion after adjustments.
In February alone, the tax authority collected Rs. 944 billion against a monthly target of Rs. 1.029 trillion, posting a shortfall of Rs. 85 billion. The same month, the FBR issued approximately Rs. 47 billion in refunds, bringing total refunds for July through February to Rs. 386 billion.
Net income tax collection in February stood at Rs. 443 billion, while sales tax revenue reached Rs. 336 billion. Customs duty collections totaled Rs. 99 billion, and federal excise duty generated Rs. 67 billion during February.
Breakdown by tax head
During the first eight months of FY26, income tax collections reached Rs. 3.956 trillion against a target of Rs. 4.098 trillion, a shortfall of Rs. 142 billion. Meanwhile, sales tax collections totaled Rs. 3.028 trillion against a target of Rs. 3.783 trillion, leaving a shortfall of Rs. 245 billion.
Customs duty generated Rs. 850 billion against a target of Rs. 898 billion, a gap of Rs. 48 billion. Federal excise duty collections stood at Rs. 532 billion, exceeding the target of Rs. 526 billion.
Despite the shortfall, officials said overall tax revenue grew by more than 11% compared with the same period last fiscal year. The FBR collected Rs. 787 billion more in taxes from July through February than it did during the corresponding period a year earlier.
Authorities said efforts were made to increase tax collection at a pace higher than economic growth and inflation, though revenue targets remained unmet.