Muhammad NaeemEvery time you recharge a Pakistani SIM in 2026, 15% advance income tax is deducted at the source. On a Rs. 100 load you receive Rs. 85. This is confirmed in the official terms and conditions of both Jazz and Zong.
On top of that, sales tax applies when you actually use the balance: 19.5% on usage in most of Pakistan and AJK, 16% in Islamabad. Bundle prices you see advertised already include these taxes.
Tax on Rs. 100 Recharge: All Networks
| Network | Load Amount | Tax Deducted (15%) | Balance Received |
| Jazz | Rs. 100 | Rs. 15 | Rs. 85 |
| Zong | Rs. 100 | Rs. 15 | Rs. 85 |
| Telenor | Rs. 100 | Rs. 15 | Rs. 85 |
| Ufone | Rs. 100 | Rs. 15 | Rs. 85 |
Warid no longer exists as a separate network; it merged into Jazz, so the Jazz row covers old Warid numbers too.
Bigger Recharges
The same 15% applies at every denomination:
- Rs. 200 load: Rs. 30 tax, Rs. 170 received
- Rs. 500 load: Rs. 75 tax, Rs. 425 received
- Rs. 1000 load: Rs. 150 tax, Rs. 850 received
FAQs
I remember only Rs. 12 being deducted. What changed?
In 2018 the Supreme Court briefly suspended these taxes and only a small deduction applied. The taxes were restored afterwards and the advance tax on recharge now stands at 15%.
Is the 19.5% sales tax charged separately on bundles?
No. Advertised bundle prices already include sales tax. The 19.5% applies to pay-as-you-go usage like standard calls and SMS without a bundle.
Are there any tax-free areas?
Gilgit-Baltistan is exempt from these taxes, and Islamabad has a lower 16% sales tax rate on usage instead of 19.5%.
Does the tax apply to balance transfers between SIMs?
No. The 15% is deducted only on fresh recharges, not on balance shared from one SIM to another.
- Standard taxes apply as per each operator’s official terms
- Using SIMs without proper documentation is a crime – PTA
- Unwanted messages can be reported by texting the sender’s number to 9000 – PTA
Also read Zong Tax Calculator for a worked example.
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