PTA Tax Check Online 2026: Check Status by IMEI, SMS 8484 & DIRBS
Do a free PTA tax check online in under 2 minutes, via SMS to 8484, the *8484# USSD menu or the DIRBS portal, then register and pay your mobile tax.
Reviewed by Salman Ahmed·Updated 15 June 2026What is a PTA tax check?
A PTA tax check confirms whether a mobile phone is already registered (PTA approved) on Pakistani networks, whether any tax is payable, and whether the IMEI has ever been reported blocked. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) decides which devices can operate on local networks, while the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) sets the tax. The system connecting them is DIRBS, the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System, live since December 2018. The check is free and takes seconds.
First, find your IMEI number
Every method needs your 15-digit IMEI. Dial *#06# on any phone and it appears instantly. Dual-SIM phones and eSIM devices show two IMEIs, so register both. You can also find the IMEI in Settings > About Phone, on the original box, or on the SIM tray of most iPhones. Always use the original IMEI assigned to the device.
Method 1: Check via SMS to 8484 (fastest)
Open your messaging app, type the 15-digit IMEI into the message body and send it to 8484 from any Pakistani SIM. Within moments you receive an SMS confirming whether the device is Compliant (approved), Non-compliant (tax due) or Blocked. This works on any handset, making it the quickest check at the point of sale.
Method 2: Dial *8484# (USSD, no internet)
Dial *8484# to open a USSD menu on screen, choose 'Check your device status', then enter the IMEI. The network returns the status immediately. Because USSD runs over the voice network, this method works even where mobile data is weak.
Method 3: Check on the DIRBS portal
Open dirbs.pta.gov.pk, scroll to the check box, enter your 15-digit IMEI, complete the CAPTCHA and submit. DIRBS shows the compliance status and confirms whether the IMEI has been reported lost, stolen or blocked, which is especially useful when buying a used phone.
What the result means
'Compliant / Valid' means the phone is PTA approved and no tax is due. 'Non-compliant' means you must pay the applicable PTA tax to keep using it beyond the grace period. 'Blocked' means the device has already exceeded the allowed window without registration. The check also returns the device make and model detected against the IMEI.
Always check before buying a used or imported phone
Buying a phone without checking its PTA status is like buying a car without seeing its papers. Many sellers advertise a device as 'PTA approved' with no proof, and some quietly sell a handset days before its 60-day cut-off. A quick IMEI check protects you from a phone that stops working on local SIMs weeks after purchase. If you are shopping for an already-approved used phone, verified PTA-approved listings on phoneflip.pk let you compare prices with the tax already paid.
Quick steps
- 1Find your IMEI. Dial *#06# on the phone to display its 15-digit IMEI number.
- 2Send the IMEI to 8484. Text the 15-digit IMEI to 8484 from any Pakistani SIM to receive the PTA status.
- 3Read the status. A reply of Compliant means approved; Non-compliant means tax is due; Blocked means the grace period has passed.
- 4Register on DIRBS if tax is due. Create an account at dirbs.pta.gov.pk, add the device by IMEI, generate a PSID and pay via bank, JazzCash or Easypaisa.