PTA Tax in Instalments (2026): How the New DIRBS Monthly Plan Works

A new phone from Dubai or London can carry a big tax bill in Pakistan. Until now you had to pay it in one go before DIRBS would register the phone. That has changed for the sales tax part of the bill.

This guide explains the new instalment plan in plain words. For the basics of bringing a phone (the free 120-day option, the 60-day deadline, passport vs CNIC), read our guide to bringing a mobile phone to Pakistan first.

What changed, and when

• June 2026: the Finance Act 2026 added a new rule to the Sales Tax Act. A person who pays tax on an imported phone through PTA's DIRBS system "may be allowed to pay tax in instalments as may be prescribed". All instalments must be paid before the end of the financial year of the import. The Act took effect on 1 July 2026.
• 11 September 2026: FBR's Sales Tax Circular 01 of 2026-27 explained the change. But there was still no method, so nobody could actually use it.
• 22 October 2026: FBR issued Customs General Order (CGO) 06 of 2026. It adds a new paragraph "F" to the main phone order, CGO 01 of 2019. This is the working procedure.

Until 22 October, the plan existed only on paper. If you read older posts saying you could already pay monthly, check the date.

Who can use it

The plan covers anyone who pays sales tax on an imported phone through DIRBS under paragraphs A, B and C of CGO 01 of 2019. In simple terms:

How many instalments you get

Pakistan's financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June. The order says the number of instalments equals the months left in the financial year, counting the month you apply. All payments must be finished before 30 June. A phone imported in June must be paid in full before the end of June.

So the earlier in the year you apply, the more months you get. This table is our reading of the rule:

Example (made-up numbers): say DIRBS shows Rs90,000 of sales tax on your phone, and you apply on 15 November. You would get 8 equal parts of Rs11,250. The first is paid when you apply. The next PSIDs come on 15 December, 15 January and so on, with the last before 30 June. These are example figures only. Your real tax depends on your phone model and value.

How to pay, step by step

1. Apply on DIRBS. Use the DIRBS portal (dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs), dial *8484# from a local SIM, or visit a mobile company franchise. Enter your passport or CNIC, your SIM number and the phone's IMEI (dial *#06# to see it).
2. Choose instalments. The order says you opt in "at the time of applying". Plan to decide here, not later.
3. Pay the first PSID. DIRBS creates a Payment Slip ID (PSID). Under CGO 01 of 2019 you can pay a PSID by online banking, ATM, mobile banking or at a bank branch.
4. Pay each new PSID every month. A fresh PSID is generated on the same date each month. If that date does not exist (for example 31 February), it comes on the last day of the month.
5. Finish before 30 June. You can also pay any or all of the remaining instalments early, at any time.

Tip: keep your SIM active and your phone number handy. You will need to track a new PSID every month.

Miss a payment and this happens

The order is strict. If an instalment is not paid by its due date:

• you are treated as a defaulter;
• the phone is treated as unregistered and blocked in DIRBS; and
• the whole remaining sales tax becomes due at once, with no option to go back to instalments.

If money may be tight later, the safest move is to pay ahead when you can.

What the plan does not change

• The tax amount. Instalments only spread the payment. The order does not reduce the tax, and it does not mention any extra charge for paying monthly.
• The 60-day rule for travellers. You still need to register a phone from your luggage within 60 days of arrival. After that, CGO 01 of 2019 adds a fine.
• The five-phone limit. PTA policy allows one person to register five devices a year in DIRBS.
• No duty-free phone. Even one phone pays duty and taxes if you want to use it on a local SIM for good. This has been the rule since 1 July 2019.
• Roaming. A foreign SIM on roaming does not need DIRBS registration.

Bringing other electronics too? See duty on a second laptop, camera or drone. Ordering a phone online instead? See online parcel duty in Pakistan.

What we could not confirm

• Whether DIRBS already shows the option. The order is dated 22 October 2026. We could not reach PTA's DIRBS website on 27 October to check that the instalment choice is live on the portal and on *8484#.
• Which charges can be split. The order and the Finance Act speak only of sales tax. "PTA tax" usually also includes customs duty and other charges. We could not confirm whether those must be paid in full with the first PSID.
• How long each PSID stays valid, and exactly how many days you get to pay it.
• Import month vs application month. The order counts months in the financial year "in which the import is made" but starts from the month you apply. It does not say what happens if you arrive in June and apply in July.
• The tax on your phone. We do not list rates. Check the amount DIRBS shows for your exact model before you pay.

We will update this page when PTA publishes its own steps.

Related: Bringing a mobile phone to Pakistan · Pakistan baggage rules 2026 · Arriving at a Pakistani airport · Second laptop, camera or drone