FBR Finally Allows Installment Payments of PTA Tax on Imported Phones

Following a two-month delay, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has now permitted individuals to pay taxes on imported mobile phones through installments, according to the latest update from ProPakistani. The new payment option, outlined in FBR Circular No. 1 of 2026, is activated via the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s DIRBS system. The PTA must yet launch the installment payment mechanism.

The installment tax arrangement was introduced through amendments made in the Finance Act, 2026, and is governed by the Ninth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990. Under this arrangement, taxpayers can divide their tax obligation into multiple payments rather than paying the total amount upfront. Crucially, all installments must be settled before the end of the financial year in which the mobile phone was imported.

Pakistan launched the DIRBS system in December 2018 to track unregistered mobile phones and block devices that did not meet tax and registration criteria. This led to the withdrawal of the duty-free allowance for mobile phones purchased by travelers from July 2019. Since then, imported devices have required the payment of applicable duties and taxes before they can be registered on local networks, thereby shifting the tax burden onto consumers bringing phones into Pakistan.