PTA Tax on iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo in Pakistan (2026)
The PTA tax on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo is the duty and tax FBR charges when you register the phone's IMEI in PTA's DIRBS system. Reports from late September 2026 put it at roughly Rs 216,000 to Rs 272,000 on a passport and Rs 238,000 to Rs 299,000 on a CNIC, depending on the model. These are reported figures, not an official FBR table, so the only exact amount is the PSID that DIRBS gives you for your own IMEI. This guide lists the reported amounts, explains Non PTA, PTA approved and JV, and shows how to check.
Updated 24 October 2026
iPhone 18 series PTA tax: reported amounts (October 2026)
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo on 9 September 2026. The Pro models went on sale on 18 September and the iPhone Duo on 23 October 2026; see iPhone 18 launch in Pakistan (iPhone 18 Launch Date & Availability in Pakistan) for dates and models. These are the PTA tax amounts most widely reported by Pakistani tech and news sites after the September 2026 launch (Bloom Pakistan, 29 September 2026, with the same figures carried by Pakistan Observer and The Pakistan Connect): - iPhone 18 Pro (iPhone 18 Pro): about Rs 216,231 on passport and Rs 237,854 on CNIC - iPhone 18 Pro Max (iPhone 18 Pro Max): about Rs 223,181 on passport and Rs 245,499 on CNIC - iPhone Duo (iPhone Duo): about Rs 271,831 on passport and Rs 299,014 on CNIC
The tax is charged per phone, not per storage size, in most reports, so a 256GB and a 1TB unit of the same model usually show the same amount. Some reports and calculators show different figures for the same phone. For example, Oraan's projection (updated 23 October 2026) is much lower, because it assumes a lower FBR customs value. Treat every figure here as a guide only.
These are government taxes, not our prices. Our store prices do not include PTA tax. Last checked: 24 October 2026.
Why the figures are not final
PTA does not set the tax. FBR and Pakistan Customs set a customs value for each model and apply duty, sales tax and levies to it. In August 2026 a PTA member told the media that PTA does not impose tax on phones and that FBR decides the amount. As of late October 2026, we could not find an FBR valuation ruling that names the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max or iPhone Duo.
The amount can also move with: - A new or revised FBR customs value for the model - The rupee-dollar exchange rate on the day you apply - Budget changes (the Finance Act 2026-27 kept the tax but added an installment option) - Whether you are a tax filer when registering on CNIC
Phones valued above 500 US dollars fall in the highest band, where sales tax is charged as a percentage of the value. That is why new flagship iPhones carry such a large tax.
Passport vs CNIC: which is cheaper?
Passport registration is cheaper, by roughly Rs 21,000 to Rs 27,000 on the iPhone 18 models in the reported figures. But it is only for a person who brings the phone in their own baggage and registers within 60 days of arrival. Travel details are checked against FIA records.
CNIC registration is for everyone else. It costs more because it adds advance income tax and other charges, and non-filers can pay more again. Using another person's passport for a phone you bought in Pakistan is not allowed and we do not recommend it.
The DIRBS FAQs say one person can register up to five devices a year, and there is no discount for students or government employees.
Non PTA vs PTA approved vs JV iPhone 18
You will see three labels in the market: - PTA approved: the IMEI is registered in DIRBS and the tax is already paid, so any Pakistani SIM works for the life of the phone - Non PTA: an original, factory unlocked international unit that is not registered yet. Wi-Fi and every feature work normally. You can register it any time by paying the PTA tax - JV: usually a carrier-locked iPhone made to accept local SIMs with an unofficial chip or software trick. An iOS update can stop it working and it cannot be registered normally
We sell the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo as Non Custom / Non PTA (Box Pack) units. They are not PTA approved, and the PTA tax is not included in our prices. If you want long-term SIM use, you pay the tax yourself on DIRBS. Read iPhone JV vs PTA vs Non PTA (iPhone JV vs PTA vs Non PTA: What Each Term Really Means) for more.
How long does a SIM work on a Non PTA iPhone 18?
According to the DIRBS FAQs, an unregistered phone gets network service for 60 days after a local SIM is first used in it. After that, the networks stop service and the period does not restart for the same phone.
Overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors have a separate temporary registration of up to 120 days from their arrival date, for one phone, with a SIM issued in their own name. Many sellers call this the '120-day rule', but it is not for local buyers.
After the grace period you have two choices: pay the PTA tax, or use the phone on Wi-Fi only. Rules can change, so check dirbs.pta.gov.pk before you decide.
eSIM-only US models: what to know
US iPhones have been eSIM only since the iPhone 14, so a US iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max has no physical SIM tray. Units from the UAE, UK, Hong Kong and some other regions may still have a SIM tray, so check the region before you order.
For an eSIM-only phone in Pakistan: - Jazz, Zong, Ufone and Telenor offer eSIM, usually at a franchise with biometric checks - An eSIM phone shows two IMEIs in Settings > General > About. Register both if you plan to use two lines - The PTA tax is the same as for a physical SIM unit - Get the eSIM after registering the phone, or within the 60-day window, so it does not lose service
The model number in Settings (for example LL/A for the USA) tells you the region.
How to check the exact PTA tax and status
To see the exact tax for your phone: - Open dirbs.pta.gov.pk and choose Device Registration System, or dial *8484# - Enter your passport or CNIC details and both IMEI numbers (dial *#06# to see them) - DIRBS creates an FBR PSID that shows the exact amount - The PSID is valid for 7 days. If you do not pay, it is deleted and you can apply again later, so checking costs nothing
You can pay the PSID at a bank or in most banking apps. To check whether an IMEI is already registered, SMS the 15-digit IMEI to 8484. See how to check PTA status (How to Check PTA Status of Any Mobile Phone) and how to register a mobile with PTA (How to Register Your Mobile with PTA (DIRBS Guide)).
Can I pay the tax in installments?
The Finance Act 2026-27 added an installment option for the tax on imported phones, paid through the PTA registration system. Pakistan Today reported on 24 June 2026 that the full amount must still be cleared within the same financial year. It is not a discount, only a different payment timing. Check DIRBS or FBR to confirm the facility is live before you plan around it.
Is it worth paying PTA tax on an iPhone 18?
It depends on how you use the phone: - Daily use with your main SIM: registering gives you peace of mind for the life of the phone - Mostly Wi-Fi: many buyers keep the iPhone 18 Pro Max on Wi-Fi and use a cheaper registered phone for calls - Compare the Non PTA price plus the DIRBS amount with any PTA approved price you are offered
If you want a lower tax, last year's models carry less. See PTA tax on iPhone 17 (PTA Tax on iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and 17e in Pakistan (2026)) and the general PTA tax on mobile phones (PTA Tax on Mobile Phones: How It Is Calculated and Paid) guide. If you are weighing the foldable, read iPhone Duo vs iPhone Fold explained (iPhone Duo, iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra? Apple's Foldable Explained). Browse all models on our iPhone 18 series (iPhone 18 Series phones) page or the Non PTA iPhone (iPhone Prices) page.
