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, its condition (new or used), and whether you register on a CNIC or, within 60 days of arrival, on your passport, which is significantly cheaper. Pick your phone's condition and model below for an FBR-based value, or enter it manually, then compare both registration routes side by side.
Slabs are based on the published FBR schedule; higher slabs include 18% sales tax on the phone's PKR value. Used-phone model values come from FBR's Valuation Ruling 2035/2076 of 2026 (Jan 2026) and can be revised again, always verify the final figure generated in DIRBS before paying.
Check your IMEI
- SMS your IMEI to 8484
- Visit dirbs.pta.gov.pk
- Use PTA's own official DIRBS app
Dial *#06# on your phone to see its 15-digit IMEI. The checker below only confirms the number is a validly formatted IMEI, it does not and cannot check your real registration status, use the official channels above for that.
Duty slabs follow the published FBR schedule and 18% sales tax; used-phone model values come from FBR Valuation Ruling 2035/2076 of 2026, which was itself revised more than once during 2026. Rates and valuations can change again in any SRO or federal budget, treat this as a close estimate, the PSID amount generated in DIRBS is the final figure. The IMEI checker validates format only and cannot access PTA's live registration database.
How to use this tool
- Choose whether your phone is new or used. For used phones, pick your exact model to auto-fill FBR's assessed value.
- For a new phone, or a used model not listed, enter the value in US dollars yourself.
- 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.
- Use the IMEI checker below to confirm your IMEI is correctly formatted, then verify your real registration status with PTA directly.
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.
Why does a used phone show a lower value than the same new model?
FBR publishes a separate customs valuation schedule specifically for old and used imported phones (Valuation Ruling 2035 and 2076 of 2026), which assesses used devices well below new retail price. These values have already been revised more than once in 2026, so treat the model dropdown as a starting estimate and confirm the current figure in DIRBS.
Can this tool check if my IMEI is PTA-approved?
No, and be wary of any third-party site that claims it can. Only PTA's own systems have the real registration database. This tool only checks that your IMEI is a validly formatted 15-digit number, use the SMS (8484), the official dirbs.pta.gov.pk portal, or PTA's own app for your actual status.
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.
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.