Key Takeaways
- Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed installment payments for PTA tax on imported mobile phones.
- The facility operates through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS).
- Individuals must pay all installments before the end of the financial year in which the phone is imported.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new facility allowing individuals to pay the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) tax on imported mobile phones in installments, following a government announcement over two months ago.
This new provision is detailed in FBR Circular No. 1 of 2026, issued on September 11, 2026, and is part of the Ninth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, as amended under the Finance Act, 2026.
Under the new provision, individuals can split their sales tax payments, providing flexibility in managing the financial burden of importing mobile phones.
However, the FBR has made it clear that all installments must be paid before the end of the financial year in which the mobile phone is imported, ensuring that the full tax liability is met within the prescribed period.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) will be used to facilitate this new payment mechanism.
DIRBS was introduced in December 2018 to identify unregistered mobile phones and block devices that do not meet tax and registration requirements.
Since July 2019, imported devices have generally required payment of applicable duties and taxes before registration for use on local networks, placing the tax burden directly on individuals bringing phones into Pakistan.
This new installment payment option is aimed at providing relief to consumers while maintaining the government’s tax collection mechanisms.
