PTA Tax in Installments: New Rule in Budget 2026-27 Explained
26 Sep 2026 · 2 min read
For years, people asked if PTA tax can be paid in parts. Now it can. The Finance Act 2026-27 allows the duty and taxes on imported mobile phones, new and used, to be paid in installments from 1 July 2026.
What the new rule says
- It covers phones brought into Pakistan from abroad, both new and used.
- The tax can be split into installments instead of one big payment.
- The installments must be paid within the same financial year (by 30 June).
- The exact procedure (how many installments, how to pay, what happens if you miss one) is to be notified by the government.
What is still unclear
As of now, the step-by-step process has not been fully announced. Until it is, many people are still paying the full amount the usual way. Watch for an announcement from FBR and PTA, and be careful of anyone offering "installment registration" for a fee: only the official PTA DIRBS and bank channels are safe.
Did the tax amount change?
No. Installments make it easier to pay, but the total tax is the same. Phones above $500 still pay the high rate. See PTA tax in Budget 2026-27 and how PTA tax is calculated.
Should you wait for installments?
If you brought a phone from abroad, you get a free period before the phone is blocked on Pakistani networks. If the installment process is not live before that period ends, you will have to pay in full or keep using the phone on Wi-Fi only.
A simpler option
Buying a phone that is already PTA approved avoids all of this. Check any phone's status with our guide to PTA approved check online, and read PTA tax on iPhone for iPhone amounts.
Browse PTA approved phones on VerifiedPhones.
