Roshan Digital Account in Pakistan: Tax Rates and How to Send Your Money Back Abroad
Roshan Digital Account holders: see SBP's published tax rates on deposits, certificates and shares, and how to send your money back abroad without approval.
Short answer: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) says money in a Roshan Digital Account (RDA) can be sent back abroad without approval from the bank or the SBP. Profit on RDA deposits is tax exempt, and profit on Naya Pakistan Certificates carries a final 10 percent tax. Rates for shares and property differ, so read the table below.
You send $5,000 home from Dubai to open a Roshan Digital Account. A year later you need it back. Can you move it out? What tax did the profit carry? Two questions, and the answers sit on the SBP's own page.
We read the SBP's Roshan Digital Account page and its Sunwai complaint portal page on 11 October 2026. The SBP's tax summary is not dated, so we flag the figures as "as published". We did not move money out of an account ourselves.
You can send RDA money back abroad without approval
The SBP page says funds available in a Roshan Digital Account can be remitted back from Pakistan without any approval from the bank or the SBP. Banks handle the transfer itself, and each bank sets its own app steps and cut-off times.
The account is built for money that comes from abroad. The SBP says funds can only be transferred into the account from abroad. Income from investments made through the account can also be added, such as profit on Naya Pakistan Certificates, shares or rent from property.
No other local money can be put in. That rule keeps the account from being used to move the local funds of residents out of Pakistan. So if you deposit rupees earned in Pakistan, expect the bank to refuse.
| Money movement | What the SBP page says |
|---|---|
| Money in from abroad | Allowed |
| Profit or rent from RDA investments | Can be credited to the account |
| Local rupee deposits from other sources | Not allowed |
| Money out to your account abroad | No bank or SBP approval needed |
| Account types | Foreign currency or rupee, single or joint, current or savings |
Tax on RDA deposit profit is nil, and no return is needed
The SBP says profit earned on RDA deposits is tax exempt. No withholding tax is deducted, and you need no exemption certificate from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). You also do not need to file a tax return on that profit.
This is the main difference from a normal bank account in Pakistan, where profit on deposits is taxed at source. The RDA regime was designed to be simple for non-resident Pakistanis, who often have no tax file here.
The exemption applies to the deposit profit. Other income streams carry their own rates, which we list next.
Other investments carry final tax at set rates
The SBP page lists a final tax of 10 percent on Naya Pakistan Certificate profit, 15 percent on capital gains and fund dividends, and ordinary property tax under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. "Final" means no further tax and no return on that income.
| Where the money is invested | Tax as published on the SBP page |
|---|---|
| RDA deposits (savings or current account) | Exempt, no withholding, no return |
| Naya Pakistan Certificates | 10 percent, full and final, no return |
| Shares and mutual funds, capital gains | 15 percent, full and final |
| Dividends from most companies and funds | 15 percent (7.5 percent from IPPs, 25 percent from tax exempt companies) |
| Property | Tax as per the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, no return for capital gains by non-resident Pakistanis |
On a $5,000 certificate earning $362.50 over a year, 10 percent tax is $36.25. That example comes from our guide to Naya Pakistan Certificates for overseas Pakistanis.
The SBP's summary describes the regime when it was introduced. Tax law changes every June in the Finance Act. Before a large investment, check the current rate with the FBR or your bank. We treat the table above as the rates "as published" on the SBP page, not as a promise for next year.
How to move your money back, step by step
Open your bank's RDA app or portal, choose the repatriation or "send money abroad" option, enter your foreign account details and submit. Your bank may ask for a reason and proof of the funds. Keep the transfer confirmation for your own records.
- Log in to your RDA bank's app or web portal.
- Check which balance you want to send: foreign currency or rupees.
- If the money is in rupees, convert it inside the account if the app allows.
- Add your foreign bank account in your own name and check the SWIFT or IBAN details.
- Submit the transfer and keep the reference number.
- Check that the credit arrives and note the bank's charges.
We have not read any one bank's repatriation page, so we cannot give time limits or fees. Ask your bank for its schedule of charges before you send.
If you plan to use the money in Pakistan first, there are other uses. Roshan Apni Car and Roshan Apna Ghar use the account for finance, and we explain both in Roshan Apni Car and Roshan Apna Ghar.
What to do if the bank stalls or refuses
Raise it with your bank's complaint unit first. If you are not satisfied, use the SBP's Sunwai portal, which was built to take complaints about Roshan Digital Accounts and general banking. It gives each complaint a number so you can track it.
The SBP's portal page says the portal lets RDA holders lodge complaints with their RDA bank, see progress and give feedback on how the complaint was closed. Our guide to the Sunwai portal explains registration. If you are opening an account for the first time, start with how to open a Roshan Digital Account.
Keep your complaint factual: the date of the transfer request, the amount, the reference number and the reply you received.
Common questions
Can I send money back from a Roshan Digital Account?
Yes. The SBP page says funds in an RDA can be remitted back from Pakistan without any approval from the bank or the SBP.
Is profit on a Roshan Digital Account taxed?
No. The SBP says profit on RDA deposits is tax exempt, with no withholding tax and no return needed.
What tax applies to Naya Pakistan Certificates?
The SBP page lists a full and final tax of 10 percent on profit for non-resident Pakistanis. No return is needed.
Can I deposit rupees from a Pakistani bank into my RDA?
No. Funds can only come in from abroad, plus income from investments made through the account.
Do I need approval to move my money out?
No approval from the bank or the SBP is needed for repatriation, per the SBP page. Ask the bank about its own documents.
Where do I complain about an RDA problem?
Start with your bank's complaint unit, then use the SBP's Sunwai portal.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on Sunday 11 October 2026. We read the SBP's Roshan Digital Account page and the Sunwai complaint handling page. The SBP's tax summary carries no date, so verify current rates with the FBR or your bank before a large transfer or purchase. We have not tested any bank's repatriation screens.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
