Registering imported mobile phones in Pakistan could become easier for eligible users after the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introduced a facility allowing sales tax to be paid in monthly instalments. The new arrangement aims to reduce the immediate financial burden on people who need to register imported phones under Pakistan’s Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS).
Under the revised rules, eligible applicants can divide their total payable sales tax into instalments spread across the remaining months of the financial year. This means users may no longer need to pay the entire tax amount upfront when applying for registration.
However, the facility does not reduce the amount of tax payable. It only changes the payment schedule, and applicants must meet the prescribed conditions to use the option.
FBR Introduces New Payment Facility
The Federal Board of Revenue has introduced the facility through Customs General Order No. 06 of 2026. The order amends the regulations originally issued in 2019 and provides a revised framework for eligible individuals registering imported mobile phones.
The change is intended to provide greater flexibility to people who face substantial tax payments when registering imported devices. Instead of paying the full amount at once, eligible applicants can spread their payments over the months remaining in the financial year.
The instalment option is not automatically available to every mobile phone user. Applicants must first satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements before choosing the payment facility.
How Monthly Instalments Will Work
According to the revised arrangement, the total payable sales tax will be divided equally among the months remaining in the financial year, including the month in which the applicant submits the registration application.
For example, an eligible person applying in January could pay the amount in six monthly instalments, covering January through June.
The number of instalments will depend on the month in which the application is submitted. Applicants who apply earlier in the financial year may have more months available to spread their payments, while those applying closer to June will have fewer instalments.
This system is designed to make payments more manageable without changing the total tax liability.
What Happens If You Apply in June?
Applicants who submit their registration applications in June will have to pay the entire applicable sales tax by June 30. Since June is the final month of Pakistan’s financial year, there will be no opportunity to spread the payment over several months.
The deadline applies regardless of when the registration process begins. All outstanding instalments must be cleared before the financial year ends on June 30.
People considering the facility should therefore check the remaining payment period before applying. The timing of the application will determine how many instalments are available.
How to Pay the Monthly Instalments
The FBR has also outlined a payment procedure for the new facility.
Once an eligible applicant submits a registration application, the system will generate a Payment Slip ID (PSID) for the first instalment. A new PSID will then be generated each month for the next scheduled payment.
If a particular month does not have the corresponding payment date, the system will issue the PSID for the final day of that month.
The revised rules also allow applicants to pay their outstanding tax before the scheduled deadlines. Users can make advance payments either partially or in full rather than waiting for the final instalment date.
Applicants should keep track of their PSIDs and payment deadlines to ensure that each instalment is deposited on time.
What Happens If You Miss an Instalment?
The FBR has warned that applicants must follow the prescribed payment schedule. Failure to deposit an instalment by its due date could result in the applicant being declared a defaulter.
Users should therefore ensure that they can meet the monthly payments before selecting the instalment option. Missing a deadline could create problems even if the applicant intends to pay the remaining amount later.
All outstanding payments must be completed by June 30, making it important for applicants to plan their payments carefully.
Will Mobile Phone Taxes Become Cheaper?
The new facility could provide short-term financial relief for eligible users by allowing them to distribute their sales tax payments over several months. This may help people who cannot comfortably afford a large upfront payment when registering an imported phone.
However, the change does not mean that imported mobile phone taxes have been reduced or abolished. The full applicable sales tax remains payable under the revised arrangement.
Mobile phone users should confirm their eligibility, review the relevant conditions and understand the payment schedule before applying. They should also check the official FBR instructions for the latest requirements.
The new system introduces greater flexibility in paying tax on eligible imported mobile phone registrations. For users who qualify, the main benefit is the ability to spread payments across the remaining months of the financial year instead of paying the entire amount at once.
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