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Samsung “PTA taxes” have not dropped across the board. Some imported Samsung phones may now cost less to register because customs valuations changed, while phones in the US$101–200 customs-value band received a broader duty and tax reduction from July 1, 2026. However, selected Samsung valuations also increased in April, so the only reliable figure is the current assessment generated for the phone’s IMEI.
The short answer
The headline is only partly accurate. In 2026, three separate changes affected the cost of importing or registering mobile phones in Pakistan:
- January: FBR revised customs values for certain old and used branded phones, including Samsung models. A lower customs value can reduce the tax base.
- April: FBR increased customs values for selected used phones, including models in the Samsung Galaxy S23 series. Earlier estimates may therefore be obsolete.
- July 1: Duties and taxes were reduced for imported phones whose applicable customs value falls in the US$101–200 band. This change is not Samsung-specific.
These changes do not prove that every Samsung phone is now dramatically cheaper to register. The result depends on the exact model, storage configuration, condition, customs valuation, registration route and current rules.
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FBR’s DIRBS information page explains that non-compliant devices can be identified and blocked from Pakistani mobile networks unless they are regularized.
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What changed in January 2026?
January reporting described revised customs values for old and used mobile phones from Samsung and other brands. The stated aim was to bring official valuations closer to current international market prices, using import data, market inquiries and stakeholder input. See the reported January valuation revision and the related FBR used-phone valuation document.
A valuation revision is not the same as a universal reduction in tax rates. If FBR assesses a phone at a lower customs value, duties and taxes calculated from that value may fall even when the statutory rates themselves have not changed.
The January development was particularly relevant to old and used devices. It should not automatically be applied to a brand-new Samsung flagship, a commercial shipment or a locally assembled phone already sold as PTA-approved.
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Why April changed the picture
In April, FBR revised customs values upward for selected old and used phones. Reports specifically identified Samsung Galaxy S23-series models among the affected devices. That means a tax table or estimate based on January values may no longer be accurate for those models. The reported changes are covered by ProPakistani’s April report.
The important conclusion is that Samsung registration costs moved in both directions during 2026. A lower January valuation does not guarantee that the same amount remains available later.
What changed on July 1?
The 2026–27 fiscal changes reduced duties and taxes on imported mobile phones in the US$101–200 customs-value category. The measure was reported as a reduction for mid-range imported phones, not as a Samsung-only policy. Relevant budget documents are available through FBR’s 2026–27 budget page and its Finance Act index.
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The threshold refers to the phone’s applicable customs value, not necessarily its foreign retail price or the price charged by a Pakistani shop. A phone advertised for more than US$200 could have an assessed customs value within the band, while a cheaper-looking device could be assessed outside it.
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What “PTA tax” actually means
“PTA tax” is common consumer shorthand, but it combines several different parts of the process. The financial assessment is governed by FBR customs and tax rules and may include customs duty, regulatory duty, sales tax, advance income tax and other statutory charges or levies. DIRBS is the device-registration and network-compliance system through which a non-compliant phone is regularized.
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- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
As a result, saying that “PTA reduced Samsung tax” can be misleading. A lower payable amount may result from:
- a reduced customs valuation;
- a new customs-value category or tariff change;
- the phone being treated as used rather than new;
- the registration route, such as passport or CNIC; or
- the applicant’s applicable tax status.
Which Samsung phones may benefit?
The strongest candidates are:
- old or used Samsung phones whose official assessed value was reduced;
- eligible imported models falling in the US$101–200 customs-value band; and
- older or mid-range devices for which depreciation is reflected in the applicable valuation.
The following buyers should be more cautious:
- buyers of new Samsung flagship phones;
- models assessed above the relevant customs-value band;
- devices affected by later upward valuation revisions, including selected Galaxy S23-series phones;
- phones already sold locally as PTA-approved; and
- commercial imports governed by rules different from an individual passenger’s registration.
The January change focused on old and used phones, while the July measure is based on customs-value classification. Neither should be treated as proof of a blanket reduction for all new Samsung devices.
How to check the exact amount
Do not rely on a generic online tax table, a seller’s old quotation or a social-media claim. Use the official DIRBS process described by FBR:
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- Find the IMEI by dialling
*#06#, checking the box or opening the phone’s settings. - For a dual-SIM or multi-SIM phone, record every IMEI.
- Open the official DIRBS registration route and enter the required identity and travel information.
- Submit the IMEI or IMEIs and review the generated payable amount or PSID.
- Pay through an approved government payment channel, such as the relevant FBR payment route.
- Confirm the registration status in DIRBS before depending on the phone for long-term use.
Passport-based passenger registration, CNIC-based registration and commercial-importer registration should not be treated as interchangeable. The exact amount can also vary with new-versus-used status, model number, storage, SIM configuration and the current valuation ruling.
Compare the full cost—not just the tax
Importing is worthwhile only if the complete cost is lower than an official PTA-approved or locally distributed alternative:
Total imported cost = foreign purchase price + travel or shipping cost + current FBR/DIRBS assessment + setup, warranty and repair costs.
A locally sold Samsung may cost more upfront but include local warranty coverage, compatible firmware, supported network bands and taxes already reflected in its retail price. Compare the exact model and storage version through Samsung Pakistan, rather than comparing a foreign sticker price with a local phone that has different specifications.
Risks to check before buying an imported Samsung
- Carrier lock: DIRBS registration does not unlock a phone tied to a foreign network.
- Regional differences: 4G and 5G bands, eSIM support, firmware, Samsung Pay and other services can vary by model region.
- Missing IMEI: registering one IMEI on a dual-SIM phone may leave the second cellular identity unregistered.
- Warranty: an overseas device may not qualify for Samsung Pakistan warranty service.
- Old tax quotation: a retailer may be using a January figure that no longer reflects an April valuation or the current DIRBS assessment.
- Unofficial modification: CPID, patched or cloned-IMEI services are not substitutes for official registration and can create legal, security, resale and network-blocking risks.
What the headline does not mean
- It does not mean every Samsung phone became cheaper to register.
- It does not mean every phone priced below US$200 qualifies; the relevant measure is customs value.
- It does not mean January valuation figures remain current.
- It does not mean a brand-new flagship receives the same treatment as a used mid-range phone.
- It does not mean PTA independently sets every tax rate.
Market context
Government figures reported roughly 32 million mobile-phone imports in FY 2025–26, compared with about 33 million in FY 2024–25. Total import value rose to approximately Rs520 billion from Rs427 billion. These figures describe the overall mobile-phone market, not Samsung-specific tax reductions, and should not be used to calculate an individual device’s registration cost. See the government press release.
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