If your phone is not PTA approved, you have to pay the PTA tax to keep using it on Pakistani SIMs. This guide shows how to check the exact tax on your phone, how the rates work and how to pay.
Check the Exact PTA Tax by IMEI
The exact amount is calculated by the government when you start the registration on PTA’s DIRBS portal:
- Dial *#06# to get your phone’s IMEI number(s).
- Go to dirbs.pta.gov.pk and open the Device Registration System (DRS).
- Sign up or log in with your mobile number and CNIC or passport details.
- Choose to register a device and enter the IMEI(s). The system shows the duty and tax and generates a PSID (payment slip ID).
You can then decide whether to pay. For a quick estimate before you buy a phone, use our PTA tax calculator.
PTA Tax Rates
The tax has two parts: a fixed amount based on the phone’s value in US dollars, plus sales tax on the value. Budget 2026-27 left the mobile phone tax structure unchanged. These are the fixed amounts used in our calculator:
| Phone value (US$) | Fixed amount (passport) | Fixed amount (CNIC) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $30 | Rs 430 | Rs 550 |
| $31 – $100 | Rs 3,200 | Rs 4,323 |
| $101 – $200 | Rs 9,580 | Rs 11,561 |
| $201 – $350 | Rs 12,200 | Rs 14,661 |
| $351 – $500 | Rs 17,800 | Rs 23,420 |
| Above $500 | Rs 27,000 | Rs 37,007 |
Sales tax is added on top: 18% of the value for phones up to $500 and 25% above $500. The value used is the one assessed by the authorities for your model, so the final amount on DIRBS can differ from any estimate.
Passport or CNIC: Which Is Cheaper?
Registering on a passport costs less, but it is meant for people bringing a phone from abroad and must be done within the allowed time after arrival. Registering on a CNIC can be done any time but costs more. Check the current conditions on DIRBS before you pay.
How to Pay the PTA Tax
- Pay the PSID through internet or mobile banking, an ATM or a bank branch.
- After payment, the phone’s status changes to approved once PTA processes it. Recheck the IMEI with SMS to 8484.
- The Finance Act 2026 allows paying PTA tax in instalments from July 2026, but the procedure has not been announced yet.
Is It Worth Paying PTA Tax?
On expensive phones the tax can be large, so compare the non-PTA price plus tax with the PTA approved price before you buy. Every phone on MobileSpot lists the PTA price, for example the iPhone price list, and our guide on PTA tax on iPhone explains the biggest cases.
