You bought a used phone, or you brought one from abroad, or a relative gifted you one. Then you put in your SIM and nothing works. The phone says it is blocked. Or you get a message that you owe PTA tax.
Before you pay anything, you want to know the real number. How much is the tax? Is the phone even registered? Here is how to check your PTA tax on your mobile, in two minutes, from your own phone.
First, what is PTA tax?
PTA tax is the duty and taxes the government charges on mobile phones that are brought into Pakistan without being properly imported. The Federal Board of Revenue sets the rate. PTA runs the system that spots these phones.
That system is called DIRBS. It stands for Device Identification Registration and Blocking System. It was launched on 1 December 2018. Every phone that connects to a Pakistani network has to pass through it. If your phone is not registered, DIRBS either asks you to pay the tax or blocks the phone. This guide is part of our regular series on everyday Pakistan law at the Lexiber blog.
You need the IMEI first
Every phone has a unique number called the IMEI. Think of it as the phone's fingerprint. Without it, you cannot check anything. You are on the free lexiber.com, where every legal answer shows the section behind it.
To find your IMEI, open your keypad and dial *#06#. The number shows on your screen. If your phone has two SIM slots, you will see two numbers. Note both down.
Way 1: send an SMS to 8484 (the quickest)
PTA runs a free SMS check. Open your messages, type your IMEI, and send it to 8484. Within seconds you get a reply telling you the status of that phone.
Do this for each IMEI if you have two. If the reply says the phone is PTA approved, you are fine. If it says the device needs registration or payment, you will need to sort that out.
Way 2: use the PTA DVS app
PTA has an official app called DVS, short for Device Verification System. It is free and has no login. You type the IMEI or scan the barcode on the phone box, and it tells you the status in real time.
The app sorts every phone into three buckets. PTA approved means it is registered and legal to use. Non PTA means it is not registered but can be approved if you meet the conditions. Not approved means the phone is blocked or restricted.
You can download it from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Way 3: dial *8484#
If you prefer not to use an app, you can dial *8484# from the phone. PTA has said this works for device registration. It is a good backup if the SMS service is slow on your network.
How much is the tax?
The exact amount depends on the value of your phone. The Federal Board of Revenue divides phones into price bands, and every band has a different rate. A cheap phone draws a small charge. An expensive phone draws a much bigger one.
You can see the current rates on the FBR page on mobile device regularization. That is the official source for the duty and tax schedule. Do not trust a random calculator that asks you to pay before you have checked the real figure.
What to do once you know the amount
If your phone is fine, nothing to do. If it needs tax, you get a PSID generated after you check, and you pay through your bank. We have written the full steps in our guide to paying PTA tax online.
One piece of advice if you are buying a used phone. Check the IMEI before you hand over the money. A phone that is PTA approved is worth its price. One that needs tax can cost you a surprise hundreds of rupees later.
Sources: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, PTA DVS app listing, FBR Mobile Devices Regularization.
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