If you are planning to “import” a phone or bring along a mobile device into Pakistan, you’d have to pay taxes for it whether it’s a feature phone or a smartphone/tablet. PTA (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) levied charges and fees on the import of mobile phones on the orders of the Pakistani government beginning December 1, 2018. For the purpose of duty/tax clearance, bespoke values have been ascribed to mobile phones based on their brands, models, and types. Only custom value paid phones would be regularized in the future, according to the guidelines by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Here’s all you need to know about bringing mobile devices into Pakistan. This table below will assist you in determining the approximate mobile phone taxes that you will have to pay at the airport or at the customs office.

Mobile Phone PTA Tax Calculator (Passport)

Mobile Phone Value in USD	Mobile Phone Value in PKR	PTA Tax in Pak Rupees (PKR)
$1 to $30	PKR 175 – PKR 5,300	PKR 430
$31 to $100	PKR 5,400 – PKR 17,500	PKR 3,200
$101 to $200	PKR 17,600 – PKR 35,000	PKR 9,580
$201 to $350	PKR 35,100 – PKR 61,300	PKR 12,200 + 17% Sales Tax Ad Valorem
$351 to $500	PKR 61,400 – PKR 87,500	PKR 17,800 + 17% Sales Tax Ad Valorem
$501 and above	PKR 87,600 and above	PKR 36,870 + 17% Sales Tax Ad Valorem

Mobile Phone PTA Tax Calculator (CNIC)

Mobile Phone Value in USD	Mobile Phone Value in PKR	PTA Tax in Pak Rupees (PKR)
$1 to $30	PKR 175 – PKR 5,300	PKR 550
$31 to $100	PKR 5,400 – PKR 17,500	PKR 4,323
$101 to $200	PKR 17,600 – PKR 35,000	PKR 11,561
$201 to $350	PKR 35,100 – PKR 61,300	PKR 14,661 + 17% Sales Tax Ad Valorem
$351 to $500	PKR 61,400 – PKR 87,500	PKR 23,420 + 17% Sales Tax Ad Valorem
$501 and above	PKR 87,600 and above	PKR 37007 + 17% Sales Tax Ad Valorem

Sales Tax Ad Valorem

Ad Valorem Sales Tax is based on the monetary worth of the taxed item, which means that when paying the PTA Tax for approval of their smartphone, customers will be charged a base tax plus a 17 percent sales tax, depending on the actual value of the smartphone. This means that the new PTA Taxes for smartphone approval will be different for different products and will be decided according to the phone’s value.

These are the numerous taxes that you would be responsible for if you import a phone through Ali Express or any other online eCommerce business.

1. Regulatory Duty (Based on phone prices in USD)

Mobile Phone Value in USD	Mobile Phone Value in PKR	Regulatory Duty in PKR
$1 – $30	PKR 175 – PKR 5,300	PKR 180
$30 – $100	PKR 5,400 – PKR 17,500	PKR 1,800
$100 – $200	PKR 17,600 – PKR 35,000	PKR 2,700
$200 – $350	PKR 35,100 – PKR 61,300	PKR 3,600
$350 – $500	PKR 61,400 – PKR 87,500	PKR 10,500
Over $500	PKR 87,600 and above	PKR 18,500

2. Sales Tax (Based on phone prices in USD)

Mobile Phone Value in USD	Mobile Phone Value in PKR	Sales Tax in PKR
$1 – $30	PKR 175 – PKR 5,300	PKR 150
$30 – $100	PKR 5,400 – PKR 17,500	PKR 1,470
$100 – $200	PKR 17,600 – PKR 35,000	PKR 1,870
$200 – $350	PKR 35,100 – PKR 61,300	PKR 1,930
$350 – $500	PKR 61,400 – PKR 87,500	PKR 6,000
Over $500	PKR 87,600 and above	PKR 10,300

3. WHT – Withholding Tax

Mobile Phone Value in USD	Mobile Phone Value in PKR	Withholding Tax in PKR
$1 – $30	PKR 175 – PKR 5,300	PKR 70
$100 – $200	PKR 17,600 – PKR 35,000	PKR 930
$200 – $350	PKR 35,100 – PKR 61,300	PKR 970
Over $500	PKR 87,600 and above	PKR 5200

4. IT Duty = 9%

5. Mobile Levy (based on phone prices in PKR)

Mobile Phone Value in PKR	Mobile Levy in PKR
PKR 10,000 – PKR 40,000	PKR 1,000
PKR 40,000 – PKR 80,000	PKR 3,000
Over PKR 80,000	PKR 5,000

6. Provincial Tax = 0.9%

When you add the above figures together, you’ll receive the exact tax amount you’ll have to pay.

Duty and Taxes on Mobile Phones

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed four distinct tariffs and fees on mobile phone imports. Earlier, the price of each equipment was decided, and then a tax was imposed. However, the policy has been changed, and slabs have been constructed for the people’s convenience.

The regulatory duty on the import of mobile phones priced between $100 and $200 will now be imposed at a flat rate of PKR 25,000 per set, according to the FBR’s website. On the other hand, importing mobile phones worth more than $500 each set will cost an individual PKR 72,500 (on passport) and PKR 85,500 (on ID). 

The following are the four categories that will assist overseas travelers who are bringing a new smartphone that is not compliant with the PTA:

• Between $100 and up to $200 – PKR 25,000
• Between $200 and up to $350 – PKR 49,000
• Between $350 and up to $500 – PKR 68,500
• Over $500 – PKR 85,500

Closing Thoughts

I hope you were able to determine the excise duty for the phone you intend to import. We recognize that these rates are exorbitant, and we believe that the government should take reasonable efforts to reduce these taxes as quickly as possible.

If you are planning to buy a new mobile phone for your friends or family, check out the price and detailed specifications of each of the mobile phones you would be interested in. You can search for mobile phones from Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Infinix, Oppo, and Vivo. Interesting thing! You can compare your most liked smartphones to pick out the best one according to your needs. 

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