The Federal Board of Revenue has directed manufacturers and importers of 56 categories of goods to print both the retail price and the amount of sales tax clearly on product packaging in a move aimed at improving transparency and strengthening tax compliance.
In Sales Tax General Order 8 of 2026 issued on Monday, the tax authority said the directive applies to goods listed in the Third Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, which are subject to 18 percent sales tax on the basis of retail price.
The FBR said it had observed that retail prices on many products were either missing, difficult to read, or concealed by packaging designs, colours, stickers, or other printed material, making it harder to determine the correct amount of sales tax.
Under the new instructions, manufacturers and importers have been told to ensure that the retail price and sales tax amount are printed in a clear, legible, prominent, and permanent manner. The authority said the information must be displayed using font sizes and colours that stand out from the background and must not be hidden by wrappers, stickers, monograms, or any other packaging material.
The FBR warned that failure to comply with the labelling requirements could lead to action under the Sales Tax Act, 1990, and the rules framed under it.
The directive covers a broad range of consumer and industrial goods, including fruit juices, soft drinks, cigarettes, tea, shampoo, toothpaste, detergents, cosmetics, bottled water, cement, paints, lubricants, batteries, tyres, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, biscuits, tiles, auto parts, DAP fertiliser, edible oils, chocolates, pet food, coffee, pasta, sauces, footwear, sanitary ware, household appliances, kitchenware, milk products, jams, ceramic items, and car accessories.
According to the FBR, businesses seeking clarification on the implementation or interpretation of the order may contact its IR Policy Wing.
The authority said the new requirements are intended to make retail prices and sales tax more transparent for consumers while also supporting more effective tax collection.
