Wrong Imei In PTA Registration? Correction Guide

Entered the wrong IMEI in a PTA application? Learn what to check before payment, how to prepare a correction request and which records to keep.

By Syed Asad Hussain Zaidi · 2 November 2026

✓ Verified for Tax Year 2026-27 (Finance Act 2026) · High Court Advocate Review

Research & Compliance Note: Research verified as of November 2026. Editorial review: Verified for Tax Year 2026-27 (Finance Act 2026) under DIRBS SOP and PTA regulatory guidelines by High Court tax counsel.

If you entered the wrong IMEI or device details in a PTA registration application, first check the application status and whether any payment has been made. Save the existing records before requesting a correction. Creating another application or paying again can make an unresolved case harder to explain.

The aim is to correct the registration record for your actual handset. It is not to change the phone’s original identifiers to match an incorrect application.

Identify the exact mismatch

Compare the submitted application with information obtained directly from the phone. Do not rely only on a box label, a seller’s message or an earlier screenshot.

Apple’s official guidance explains how to locate an iPhone’s IMEI in its settings (Settings > General > About). For Android devices, dial *#06# or check Settings > About Phone > Status > IMEI information for the exact model.

Record the discrepancy in a small table:

| Field | Submitted information | Information supported by your records | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | IMEI | Number entered in the application | Identifier displayed by the handset | | Additional IMEI | Any second identifier submitted | Other IMEI displayed, where applicable (e.g., dual-SIM/eSIM) | | Device model | Model shown in the application or notice | Exact handset model and commercial designation | | Applicant details | Name and identity information entered | Details on the relevant identity document (Passport/CNIC) | | Payment | PSID and transaction status | Assessment challan and bank receipt |

Keep complete identifiers in your private records and official complaint. Mask them in public posts or forum discussions.

If you have not submitted the application

Correct the entry before submission and check the remaining fields again. Make sure that an IMEI field contains the requested 15-digit identifier, rather than a serial number, EID or mobile number.

Where the phone shows more than one IMEI (such as physical SIM + eSIM), label your records clearly. This helps avoid entering the same number twice or copying an identifier from another handset.

Take a final screenshot of the reviewed details for your own records before submitting.

If the application is pending and unpaid

The published DIRBS SOP recognises deletion or replacement of a request containing an incorrect IMEI. It also describes deletion during the pending stage. These are published procedures, not confirmation that every current application interface offers the same controls.

Before using an available correction or deletion option:

1. Confirm that no payment has completed or remains pending at your bank.
2. Save the application reference and any generated PSID first.
3. If the available action on the PTA DRS portal is unclear, request instructions through PTA’s complaint service. Do not guess which option will preserve the correct information.

If you have already paid

Keep the application, assessment, PSID and bank receipt together. Ask your commercial bank or 1Link member app to confirm the transaction status if it is uncertain. Avoid deleting the request or making another payment while the first transaction remains unresolved.

For the specific case of payment against a deleted PSID, the SOP describes PTA checking evidence with FBR and, after confirmation, directing a new application so the verified payment can be associated with it. That procedure should not be assumed to cover every wrong-IMEI or wrong-PSID case automatically.

Explain both issues clearly in your complaint:

• The incorrect device detail submitted; and
• The payment already settled.

Request the correction and payment-reconciliation procedure applicable to your case. Do not describe a refund, adjustment or transfer as approved until the relevant authority confirms it in writing.

If the model or manufacturer does not match

A model mismatch deserves immediate attention even when you believe the 15-digit IMEI was copied correctly.

The DIRBS SOP warns applicants to check model and manufacturer information before paying. It cautions that inconsistent device information can lead to blocking even after duty payment.

Compare the phone, its internal firmware settings, purchase documents and the official DIRBS notification. Preserve the full message rather than recording only the tax amount.

A mismatch alone does not establish the root cause (such as a cloned or patched IMEI from another handset). Ask PTA to investigate through formal channels instead of modifying an identifier, selecting a different model to obtain a lower assessment, or accepting an unexplained third-party “approval” service.

Prepare a clear correction request

Use the official PTA Complaint Management System (CMS). Its published manual identifies a DIRBS-related complaint type with fields for the complaint nature, summary and attachments. Follow the categories currently shown on the portal.

Include information that allows the reviewer to connect the application, handset and payment:

| Record | Why it helps | | :--- | :--- | | Application reference and status | Identifies the specific DRS request requiring attention | | Screenshot of submitted details | Shows the recorded error clearly to the investigating officer | | Handset identifier screenshot | Supports the requested correction with hardware evidence (*#06#) | | Purchase or repair documentation | Explains the handset’s provenance and history where relevant | | PSID and bank receipt, if paid | Connects the bank settlement directly to the FBR assessment | | Earlier complaint reference | Keeps follow-up linked to the existing case history |

This is a preparation checklist, not a universal mandatory-document list. Supply additional identity evidence only through official channels when requested. Never attach passwords, banking PINs or OTP codes.

Suggested complaint wording

Subject: Correction requested — incorrect IMEI/device details in application [Insert Reference]

> I submitted mobile-registration application [Insert Reference Number] on [Insert Date]. The application currently shows [Insert Incorrect Detail], while my handset and supporting records show [Insert Correct Detail].

> The application status is [Insert Status]. Payment against PSID [Insert PSID Number] is [not made / pending / confirmed by my bank]. Where payment was made, the amount was PKR [Insert Amount], and the bank transaction reference is [Insert Transaction Reference].

> Please advise how to correct this application and, where applicable, reconcile the existing payment before I submit another request or make a further payment. I attach the relevant application, handset and payment records for your review.

Use only the payment description supported by your records. An account debit should not be described as confirmed settlement without bank confirmation.

Check the result after correction

PTA’s official CMS app supports complaint tracking and history. Retain your complaint tracking number and follow the status of the same case rather than opening duplicate tickets.

After receiving a resolution:

1. Compare the corrected application with the handset again.
2. Verify every relevant IMEI’s official status by sending an SMS to 8484 or using the PTA DIRBS Device Verification System.
3. Confirm whether any further carrier restart or SIM reactivation step is required.

Keep the resolution notification alongside your original application and payment records. A clear documentation history helps explain what changed and prevents the same discrepancy from being raised again without context.

This guide does not promise a universal correction time or automatic refund. The appropriate action depends on the error, application status and payment position.

TaxCalc.pk’s companion guide, Paid PTA Tax but Your Phone Is Still Blocked?, covers post-payment troubleshooting and cellular network provisioning. For an incorrect application, begin with the precise mismatch and preserve the records needed to correct it.