Tax applicable on single mobile for travellers coming from abroad

KARACHI: The federal government has ended exemption on travellers bringing even a single mobile phone from abroad as tax will be applicable on it.

In a session of Senate’s Standing Committee for Information Technology, the officials said that in the latest finance bill, tax will be applicable on even a single mobile from July 1.

Customs official said that passengers will have to pay tax duty on mobile phones if they are coming from abroad.

Officials said that for bringing a mobile for the first time, it should be registered. In case of failure to do so, the mobile phone will work on one sim for only a period of 60 days and if remains unregistered, then it will be blocked.

Tax officials said that for a registered phone on which tax has been paid once, it will not have to be paid again.

Travellers will have to pay up to Rs31,000 for a phone costing more than $500.