Tax on Imported Mobile Phones Can Now Be Paid in Instalments from July 1

The government has introduced a major relief for individuals importing mobile phones by allowing them to pay the applicable taxes in instalments from July 1, 2026, under the newly enacted Finance Act 2026.

The new provision enables individuals registering imported mobile devices through the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to spread the payment of taxes over multiple instalments instead of making a lump-sum payment at the time of registration.

However, the facility comes with a key condition: the entire tax liability must be cleared before the close of the financial year in which the mobile phone is imported.

The measure has been introduced through an amendment to the Ninth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, incorporated in the Finance Act 2026.

According to the amended law,

“An individual liable to pay tax on an imported mobile phone device through the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority may be allowed to pay tax in instalments as may be prescribed, subject to the condition that all the instalments shall be paid before the end of the financial year in which the import is made.”

The government is expected to notify detailed rules governing the instalment mechanism, including the number of instalments, payment schedule and operational procedures.

The move is aimed at easing the financial burden on overseas Pakistanis and other individuals who bring mobile phones into the country for personal use and are required to pay taxes to register their devices with the PTA.

Currently, imported mobile phones cannot be used on local cellular networks unless they are registered with the PTA after payment of the applicable duties and taxes through the DIRBS system.

The introduction of an instalment-based payment option is expected to improve compliance while making it easier for consumers to register high-end devices without facing an immediate one-time tax payment. The facility will become effective from July 1, 2026, alongside other fiscal measures introduced under the Finance Act 2026.

Also Read: Pakistan Unlikely to Cut Mobile Taxes on Premium Smartphones in FY27 Budget