PTA Mobile Tax Calculator — CNIC vs Passport (2026)
Bringing a phone to Pakistan? Any device staying longer than 30 days must be registered with PTA, and the tax depends on the phone's value and whether you register on a CNIC or — within 60 days of arrival — on your passport, which is significantly cheaper. This calculator shows both amounts side by side so you can see exactly what the passport route saves you.
Slabs are the published FBR 2025–26 rates; higher slabs include 17% sales tax on the phone's PKR value. Always verify the final figure in the DIRBS system.
Duty slabs are the published FBR 2025–26 schedule and can be revised in any federal budget or SRO. Treat this as a close estimate — the PSID amount generated in DIRBS is the final figure.
How to use this tool
- Enter your phone's value in US dollars (the price you paid or current market value).
- Adjust the PKR/USD exchange rate if it has moved.
- Press Calculate — you'll see the CNIC tax, the passport tax, and the savings side by side.
- If you arrived in Pakistan within the last 60 days, register on your passport to pay the lower amount.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CNIC and passport registration?
Overseas arrivals can register one phone on their passport within 60 days of arrival at reduced duty rates. Registration on a CNIC is available to everyone at the standard (higher) rates. On expensive phones the passport route can save tens of thousands of rupees.
Is any phone exempt from PTA tax?
Every visitor or returning Pakistani can use one personal phone tax-free for up to 120 days per visit under the temporary registration scheme. Overseas Pakistanis may also register one phone per year at concessional rates on their passport.
How long can I use my phone in Pakistan without registering?
A foreign SIM works indefinitely, but with a Pakistani SIM an unregistered phone stops working on local networks after roughly 30 days (or after the 120-day temporary exemption if you activated it). Register before the deadline to avoid being blocked.
Why does the tax jump so much above $200 phone value?
For phones valued above $200, FBR adds 17% sales tax on the phone's full PKR value on top of the fixed duty — that's why flagship phones attract such large amounts. This calculator includes that 17% automatically.
Where do I actually pay the PTA tax?
Register the IMEI in the DIRBS system (dirbs.pta.gov.pk) or via the PTA app, get the PSID, and pay through any bank app, ATM or bank branch. The phone is whitelisted usually within a few hours of payment.