Good news for smartphone buyers in Pakistan: PTA tax on used Samsung Galaxy S23 series phones is set to decrease, following revised customs valuation by the Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi.
The updated valuation will take effect within about a week and will reduce the overall PTA tax payable, making used flagship Samsung phones more affordable in the local market.
New Customs Values Set by Customs Authorities
The Directorate General of Customs Valuation Karachi has fixed new import values for used smartphones from major brands, including:
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Samsung
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Apple
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Google
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OnePlus
These customs values are used as the base for calculating PTA mobile registration tax, which directly affects the final retail price of PTA-approved phones in Pakistan.
Samsung Galaxy S23 PTA Tax and Expected Retail Price
Samsung Galaxy S23 (Base Model)
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Customs Value: $140 (≈ Rs. 36,397)
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PTA Tax on CNIC: Rs. 19,217
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PTA Tax on Passport: Rs. 17,236
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Estimated Final Retail Price: Around Rs. 55,000
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
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Customs Value: $160 (≈ Rs. 44,796)
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PTA Tax on CNIC: Rs. 20,225
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PTA Tax on Passport: Rs. 18,244
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Estimated Final Retail Price: Around Rs. 65,000
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
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Customs Value: $255 (≈ Rs. 71,393)
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PTA Tax on CNIC: Rs. 29,313
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PTA Tax on Passport: Rs. 26,852
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Estimated Final Retail Price: Around Rs. 100,000
This marks a significant price drop for the S23 Ultra, which previously remained well above this range in the used market.
Why PTA Tax Is Going Down on Used Phones
PTA tax is calculated based on the customs-assessed device value, not the international retail price. By lowering customs valuation:
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Importers pay less duty
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PTA registration tax is reduced
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Final consumer prices fall
This policy aims to balance revenue collection with affordability, especially as Pakistan’s used smartphone market continues to grow rapidly.
When Will New Prices Reflect in the Market?
According to importers and traders, the revised values should begin reflecting in the market within a week, once new shipments cleared under the updated valuation reach retailers.
Prices may vary slightly based on:
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Phone condition
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Storage variant
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Dollar exchange rate
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Shop margins
However, overall pricing is expected to remain close to the estimates above.
What This Means for Buyers in Pakistan
With reduced PTA taxes, the Samsung Galaxy S23 series becomes one of the most affordable flagship options in Pakistan’s used phone market, offering:
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
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High-end cameras
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Premium AMOLED displays
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Long software support from Samsung
This change could increase demand for PTA-approved devices and reduce reliance on non-PTA phones.
