PTA Mobile Tax Calculator
Any phone bought abroad (or imported) that isn't already approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will get its mobile network blocked after 60 days unless you register its IMEI with FBR and pay the applicable tax. Estimate that tax below, and compare the Passport route against the CNIC route before you decide how to register.
Not Sure If Your Phone Needs This?
Check your phone's PTA registration status first — if it's already approved, you don't need to pay anything.
Or dial *8484# or send your 15-digit IMEI (dial *#06# to find it) by SMS to 8484 — free on all networks.
1. Your Phone
Pick your model to fill in FBR's assessed value automatically, or enter the value yourself — this is the "C&F value" shown on your invoice if you have one.
Covers Apple, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel & OnePlus. Don't see your phone (e.g. Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme)? Choose "Enter value manually" and type in its value below.
Don't have an invoice? Use your phone's approximate resale/market value in USD — FBR will use its own valuation ruling if it differs materially from what you declare.
Passport route applies only if you register within 60 days of arriving in Pakistan with the phone.
Smartphones are exempt from customs duty; basic phones pay a flat Rs. 250.
2. Exchange Rate
Interbank USD/PKR was ~Rs. 277.9 on 27 Aug 2026 — adjust if you want to use a different rate.
Estimated PTA Tax
Enter your phone's value and select a registration route above to see your estimate.
| Item | Amount |
|---|
| Value (USD) | Regulatory Duty | Sales Tax | Mobile Levy | Income Tax (CNIC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $30 | Rs 240 | 18% | Rs 100 | Rs 100 |
| $30 – $100 | Rs 2,400 | 18% | Rs 200 | Rs 100 |
| $100 – $200 | Rs 6,000 | 18% | Rs 200 | Rs 930 |
| $200 – $350 | Rs 8,800 | 18% | Rs 1,800 | Rs 970 |
| $350 – $500 | Rs 12,000 | 18% | Rs 4,000 | Rs 5,000 |
| $500 – $700 | Rs 17,600 | 25% | Rs 8,000 | Rs 11,500 |
| Above $700 | Rs 17,600 | 25% | Rs 16,000 | Rs 11,500 |
Passport-route registrations are exempt from the Income Tax / withholding column entirely. Smartphones are exempt from customs duty; basic/feature phones pay a flat Rs. 250.
PTA Tax at a Glance
| What Triggers It | Any phone's IMEI not already PTA-approved, used with a local Pakistani SIM for more than 60 days |
|---|---|
| Passport Route | Register within 60 days of arrival; skips income tax/withholding entirely |
| CNIC Route | Used for phones bought locally or registered after the 60-day window; includes income tax/withholding |
| Tax Components | Customs duty (feature phones only), regulatory duty, sales tax (18% or 25%), mobile handset levy, income tax (CNIC only) |
| Where to Pay | PTA's DIRBS portal (dirbs.pta.gov.pk), linked to FBR for payment |
| Per-Trip Allowance | One phone per passport, per trip, via the Passport route |
PTA Tax Value Brackets & Duty Rates
Every phone falls into one of these seven value brackets (based on its C&F value in USD). Each bracket sets its own regulatory duty, sales tax rate, and mobile handset levy — the income tax column applies only if you register via the CNIC route.
| Value Bracket | Regulatory Duty | Sales Tax | Mobile Levy | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $30 | Rs. 240 | 18% | Rs. 100 | Rs. 100 (CNIC route only) |
| $30 – $100 | Rs. 2,400 | 18% | Rs. 200 | Rs. 100 (CNIC route only) |
| $100 – $200 | Rs. 6,000 | 18% | Rs. 200 | Rs. 930 (CNIC route only) |
| $200 – $350 | Rs. 8,800 | 18% | Rs. 1,800 | Rs. 970 (CNIC route only) |
| $350 – $500 | Rs. 12,000 | 18% | Rs. 4,000 | Rs. 5,000 (CNIC route only) |
| $500 – $700 | Rs. 17,600 | 25% | Rs. 8,000 | Rs. 11,500 (CNIC route only) |
| Above $700 | Rs. 17,600 | 25% | Rs. 16,000 | Rs. 11,500 (CNIC route only) |
Customs duty of Rs. 250 additionally applies to basic/feature phones only (smartphones are exempt from this specific line item). Figures reflect the calculator above; always confirm the final amount on PTA's DIRBS portal before paying.
Understanding PTA Mobile Tax
Why the tax jumps between brackets
Because the regulatory duty, sales tax rate, and mobile levy are all set per bracket rather than smoothed into one continuous formula, a phone valued just above a boundary — say $501 instead of $499 — moves into a bracket with a higher regulatory duty, a higher levy, and a higher sales tax rate (25% instead of 18%) all at once. This is why two nearly identical phones can show noticeably different totals.
Passport route vs. CNIC route
Every bracket's income tax component applies only on the CNIC route. Registering via Passport within 60 days of arrival skips that component entirely, since it's treated as a traveller bringing in personal baggage rather than a taxable local acquisition. This is the single biggest lever for reducing what you pay, and it's reflected as the "if registered via the other route" comparison line in the calculator's breakdown above.
How your phone's value is set
FBR uses the invoice value (Cost & Freight) where you have one, converted to PKR at the prevailing exchange rate, or its own valuation ruling for that specific model if that figure is higher. Since resale/import valuations shift over time and by model, the value you should enter is the one FBR would actually assess — not necessarily the price you personally paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PTA (non-PTA) mobile tax?
It's the set of customs duties and taxes charged by FBR when you register a phone's IMEI that wasn't already approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority — typically because it was bought abroad, gifted, or brought in personal baggage. Without registering and paying this, the phone's mobile network access gets blocked after roughly 60 days.
What's the difference between the Passport and CNIC routes?
The Passport route is for travellers registering a phone they personally carried into Pakistan, within 60 days of arrival — it skips the income tax/withholding component entirely. The CNIC route applies to phones bought locally (e.g. from an online seller) or registered after that 60-day window, and includes an additional income tax/withholding charge on top of the same duty and levy components.
How is my phone's value determined?
FBR uses the C&F (Cost & Freight) value from your purchase invoice where available, converted to PKR at the prevailing exchange rate. If you don't have an invoice, or if FBR's own valuation ruling for your phone model is higher than what you declare, the higher of the two is generally used.
Why does the tax jump so much between value brackets?
The regulatory duty, sales tax rate, and mobile handset levy are all set per price bracket rather than as one smooth formula, so a phone valued just above a bracket boundary (e.g. $501 vs $499) can attract a noticeably higher regulatory duty, levy, and a higher sales tax rate (25% instead of 18%) all at once.
Is this calculator affiliated with PTA or the Government of Pakistan?
No. This is an independent estimation tool built from publicly circulating rate information. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to PTA, FBR, or the Government of Pakistan. Always confirm the exact, final amount via PTA's official DIRBS portal before paying.