PTA Mobile Tax in Pakistan: Duty Slabs & the 17% Sales Tax Rule
Registering an imported phone in Pakistan costs two things: a fixed duty that depends on the phone's price and your route, plus 17% sales tax on phones above $200. This guide shows both, with worked examples.
Try it yourself: PTA Mobile Tax Calculator — pick your phone and route for your own estimate.
The formula
- Phone value in PKR = phone price in USD × USD → PKR rate. The calculator's default rate is Rs 278.50, and you can edit it.
- Duty = fixed slab amount for your phone's price band and route (traveller passport vs CNIC). It is not a percent of the price.
- Sales tax = 17% of the PKR value, only if the phone costs more than $200. At or below $200, no sales tax is added.
- Total cost = phone value + duty + sales tax.
Duty slabs used by the calculator
| Phone price (USD) | Traveller (passport) | CNIC route |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $30 | Rs 430 | Rs 550 |
| Up to $100 | Rs 3,200 | Rs 4,323 |
| Up to $200 | Rs 9,580 | Rs 11,561 |
| Up to $350 | Rs 12,200 | Rs 14,661 |
| Up to $500 | Rs 17,800 | Rs 23,420 |
| Above $500 | Rs 27,600 | Rs 37,007 |
Worked example 1: $799 phone, traveller (passport)
- Phone value = $799 × Rs 278.50 = Rs 222,522.
- Duty (above $500, passport) = Rs 27,600.
- Sales tax 17% (above $200) = Rs 37,829.
- Total cost = Rs 287,950.
Worked example 2: same $799 phone, CNIC route
- Phone value = Rs 222,522 (same phone, same rate).
- Duty (above $500, CNIC) = Rs 37,007.
- Sales tax 17% = Rs 37,829.
- Total cost = Rs 297,357 — Rs 9,407 more than the passport route.
Worked example 3: $150 phone (no sales tax)
- Phone value = $150 × Rs 278.50 = Rs 41,775.
- Duty (up to $200, passport) = Rs 9,580.
- Sales tax = Rs 0 — the phone is not above $200.
- Total cost = Rs 51,355.
Assumptions behind these figures
- USD → PKR rate Rs 278.50, the calculator's default. Change it in the calculator if the rate has moved.
- Duty is a fixed slab amount, not a percentage — a $799 phone and a $999 phone in the same band pay the same duty.
- The calculator computes duty + sales tax only. It does not add any other fee.
Common mistakes
- Using the wrong route. Passport and CNIC duties differ by thousands of rupees — pick the route you will actually register under.
- Forgetting the 17% sales tax. Above $200 it is often bigger than the duty itself.
- Using an old dollar rate. The PKR value — and therefore the sales tax — moves with the exchange rate.
- Assuming the estimate is the final DIRBS charge. Verify the phone's status and final tax at dirbs.pta.gov.pk before paying.
Source and date note
Rates verified: October 2026. Source: FBR Valuation Ruling 1999/2025 slabs (Finance Act 2025-26) as used by the PTA Mobile Tax Calculator, with the 17% sales tax rule above $200. Verify the current slabs and your phone's status at dirbs.pta.gov.pk. This guide is general information only, not tax advice.
Reviewed by [MY NAME — one-line credential]
Last updated: October 2026. This guide explains the calculator's formula and worked examples; it is general information, not personal financial or tax advice.
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- PTA Mobile Tax Calculator — your own phone's duty and sales tax.
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- Property Transfer Tax Calculator — transfer tax on buying or selling property.
- Filer vs Non-Filer Tax Calculator — how filer status changes withholding tax.
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