Overview
- The government told the Senate it is seriously considering tax relief on PTA phone registration to help visiting expatriates.
- The NA finance panel asked FBR and the Tax Policy Unit to propose changes for the 2026–27 budget, with the chair urging an out-of-the-box approach to ease import limits.
- One reported option would cut the sales tax on imported phones priced above $500 in built-up (ready-to-use) condition to 18 percent, which matches the rate on cheaper models.
- The head of the Tax Policy Unit said there is no room to lower the standard 18 percent sales tax or the withholding charge collected at import under “pay as you earn.”
- Under current PTA rules, a phone brought from abroad works for only a few weeks before service is cut unless the user pays the required tax.