PTA tax on phones

[arehman1289]

Hello,

I recently arrived to Pakistan from abroad. Is it not that 1 mobile phone allowed per traveller that is exempt from custom taxes or has the rule changed. What is the procedure to register my personal phone for free ?

Thanks

[anon35615524]

Is it not that 1 mobile phone allowed per traveller that is exempt from custom taxes or has the rule changed.

I am not sure, however, I once heard that the rules have now been changed, and now any / all mobile phones which come from abroad, have to be registered with the relevant departments, and there is no exception for 01 mobile phone free registration.

What is the procedure to register my personal phone for free ?

You may get relevant details from here: https://dirbs.pta.gov.pk/

If not sure about anything, please directly get in touch with PTA by calling on their helpline No. 0800-55555.

I hope, it helps. Thank you.

[kinder]

Is it not that 1 mobile phone allowed per traveller that is exempt from custom taxes or has the rule changed.

Yes, it has changed. One can no longer get any exemption but if you intend to use your phone on roaming (i.e. foreign service provider) then you can use it for as long as you want to. If you intend to use it on a local service provider then it is limited to 60 days only. Please do verify it from PTA helpline as website is often outdated.

[hash4u]

phone will work 60 days in PK
after that you have to register it by paying for it

A. No, as of 30th June 2019, FBR has withdrawn free baggage exemption rule. Every device that is to be register will be subject to applicable FBR duties. Further details on withdrawal of baggage rule exemptions and applicable custom duties slab is available at FBR link https://fbr.gov.pk/mobile-devices-regularization-dirbs/51149/131261 .

[arehman1289]

This law is quite strange. I have an iPhone X whose market value is less than 300 USD but when it comes to tax I have to pay that of its new value. Also I paid tax from the country I purchased the phone in, this is simply a redundant tax. Do you think there is anyway around this as I dont think PTA is that efficient ?

[hash4u]

no way around it
i think its better to grab latest phone
or a pretty old phone

slightly older models loose alot of value and then paying heavy tax on top makes it totally unfeasible

[anon35615524]

Last year, One of my colleagues started using a very old model, simple Nokia phone (10~15 years old) which had been long forgotten, and the moment he inserted the SIM Card, he immediately got the message from PTA for device registration, and paying the taxes.

The tax amount was somewhere around 2500~3500 PKR, but was almost 5~7 times the current market price of that phone. Since he had to use it, so he paid the taxes and started using the device.

Sometimes, rules are very strange here.

[Hassan1991]