PTA Tax Check Online: How to See the Tax on Any Phone Model
The only exact PTA tax check is the PSID that DIRBS generates when you start registration with the phone's IMEI on dirbs.pta.gov.pk or *8484#. Online calculators and tax lists are estimates. This guide shows how to check, and what to expect on popular models such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, 15 Pro Max, 14 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Updated 15 November 2026
PTA tax check by IMEI: the exact method
To check PTA tax online for a specific phone: - Dial *#06# and note every IMEI - Log in to the DIRBS Device Registration System or dial *8484# from a SIM on your CNIC - Start a new registration and enter the IMEIs, CNIC or passport details - DIRBS shows a PSID with the exact duty for that phone and that registration type
Checking does not commit you. An unpaid PSID simply expires, so you can see the amount, think about it, and apply again later. This is the answer to 'how to check PTA tax on mobile' that never goes out of date. Our DIRBS portal guide (PTA DIRBS Explained: dirbs.pta.gov.pk, DRS, DVS and Sign Up) explains the screens.
Why PTA tax calculators and lists disagree
People search for a 'pta mobile tax calculator', 'pta tax list' or 'pta duty check' and find several websites showing different figures for the same phone. That happens because: - FBR sets a customs value for each model, and it can be revised - Budgets and notifications change the rates, sometimes mid-year - Passport and CNIC registration have different amounts - Some sites still show old tables from earlier years
Use calculators only for a rough idea. The DIRBS PSID comes from FBR's own system, so it is the figure you actually pay. The structure of the tax is explained in PTA tax on mobile phones (PTA Tax on Mobile Phones: How It Is Calculated and Paid).
iPhone 16 Pro Max PTA tax
The iPhone 16 Pro Max (iPhone 16 Pro Max) is a high-value phone, so it sits in the top value band where the tax includes a percentage-based sales tax. That makes its PTA tax one of the largest amounts in the market, and the passport rate has generally been lower than the CNIC rate.
Our iPhone 16 Pro Max units are slightly used, 100% genuine Non PTA (factory unlocked). Many buyers use them on Wi-Fi at first and register them on DIRBS when they are ready. For the newer model, see PTA tax on iPhone 17 (PTA Tax on iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and 17e in Pakistan (2026)).
iPhone 15 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max PTA tax
Searches for '15 pro max pta tax' and '14 pro max pta tax' are very common because these phones are popular in the used market. Their tax is still in the upper bands, though FBR may assign older models a different customs value from the newest ones, which is why the DIRBS amount can differ from what you saw last year.
Our iPhone 15 Pro Max (iPhone 15 Pro Max) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (iPhone 14 Pro Max) are slightly used Non PTA units with 100% battery health, shown on each page. Check the PSID on DIRBS before deciding whether to register or keep the phone on Wi-Fi.
iPhone 13 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max PTA tax
For the iPhone 13 Pro Max (iPhone 13 Pro Max) and iPhone 12 Pro Max (iPhone 12 Pro Max), the question buyers ask is whether the tax is worth paying on an older phone. The tax depends on the model's customs value, not on its condition, so a used phone does not automatically get a lower amount.
As a rule of thumb, the older the model, the more carefully you should compare its price plus tax with a newer phone. If you mainly use Wi-Fi, a Non PTA iPhone may suit you without registration; if you need your main SIM in it every day, registration gives long-term peace of mind.
Galaxy S24 Ultra and S23 Ultra PTA tax
'S24 Ultra pta tax' and 's23 ultra pta tax' are popular searches from people bringing a Samsung flagship from abroad. Like other flagships, these phones fall in the higher value bands, and the PSID on DIRBS is the exact figure.
If you buy from our store, the question is simpler. Our Galaxy S24 Ultra (Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra) and Galaxy S23 Ultra (Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra), like all our Android phones, are PTA Patch Approved box pack units, so a local SIM works in them. Ask us before ordering if you have a specific question about SIM use.
Older phones: Galaxy S10, S9, J7, Huawei P30 and others
We still see searches like 's10 pta tax', 'j7 pta tax', 'p30 lite pta tax' and 'y9 prime 2019 pta tax'. The method for these older phones is the same: enter the IMEI on DIRBS and read the PSID. Older, low-value models usually fall in lower bands with smaller fixed amounts.
We do not sell these discontinued phones. If you are replacing one, current budget phones such as the Galaxy A16 (Samsung Galaxy A16) or Redmi 14C (Redmi 14C) are PTA Patch Approved box pack units and work with a local SIM.
Before you pay the PTA tax: a short checklist
- Confirm every IMEI matches the box and Settings
- Check that the SIM you use for registration is on your own CNIC
- Decide between passport and CNIC: the passport route is only for genuine travellers within the allowed days
- Pay the PSID before it expires, through a bank, bank app or wallet
- After payment, wait for the status to change, then test with a SIM
Payment steps are in how to pay PTA tax online (How to Pay PTA Tax Online with Your PSID). Never pay an agent to make a phone 'approved' without a PSID; legal registration always goes through DIRBS.
