FBR Allows Imported Phone Sales Tax Payments in Monthly Instalments

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced monthly instalments for sales tax payments on eligible imported mobile phones registered through Pakistan’s Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS).

The facility was set out in Customs General Order No. 06 of 2026, which amends the existing procedure for registering unregistered mobile devices. Eligible individual applicants can select the instalment option while applying through DIRBS.

Under the order, the sales tax is divided into equal monthly payments based on the number of months remaining in the financial year. The month in which the application is submitted counts toward that period. Applicants registering a phone in June must pay the full amount by the end of that month.

The first payment is made using a Payment Slip ID (PSID) generated when the application is submitted. DIRBS is to generate a separate PSID for each later instalment on the corresponding date of the following months. If a month does not have that date, the PSID is generated for the month’s final day.

All instalments must be paid by June 30. Applicants may also pay some or all of the remaining balance early.

Missing an instalment deadline can have serious consequences. Under the reported order, a defaulter’s phone may be treated as unregistered and blocked through DIRBS. The outstanding sales tax then becomes immediately due, and the applicant loses the option to continue paying in instalments.

The change affects the timing of payment; it does not reduce the amount owed. The facility concerns sales tax payable on eligible imported phones, while “PTA tax” is a commonly used informal label for the charges involved in registering a device for local network use.

Applicants should check the current DIRBS application process and payment instructions before making a payment, as the installment option and amount due depend on eligibility and the application details.