Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has started recovery proceedings against 38 well-known YouTubers, TikTok stars and social media influencers for hiding income worth around Rs 15 billion. The action has been taken after authorities found that their lifestyle and spending do not match the income they declared to tax officials.

According to the sources, the action is being carried out by the Federal Board of Revenue, which has ordered income tax audits of these influencers. The recovery drive aims to collect unpaid taxes along with penalties for concealing income over several past years.

The case was identified by the FBR’s “Lifestyle Monitoring Cell”, which reviews publicly available material on digital platforms. Officials observed that many influencers openly display luxury cars, expensive homes, foreign travel and high spending online, while their tax returns show very low income.

According to officials, the Cell found clear mismatches between declared income and actual lifestyle. In several cases, strong evidence suggests that large amounts of undeclared income were used to fund these lifestyles. The money was not reported to tax authorities and remained outside the tax net.

Based on these findings, the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue issued intelligence advisories to field formations across the country. These formations have been instructed to take necessary legal action.

Sources confirmed that detailed audits have already started in many cases, while notices for concealment of income are being issued in others. Fresh tax assessments will be made to determine the exact amount of unpaid tax and penalties.

Officials say the move reflects growing concern over tax evasion in the digital economy, where earnings from online platforms have increased rapidly but remain largely undocumented. The authorities believe stricter monitoring is needed to ensure compliance and fairness in the tax system.