236Y Tax and Foreign Card Fee Calculator 2026-27
What a payment abroad really costs on a Pakistani card: the bank's foreign transaction fee, tax on the fee and 236Y, compared across 14 cards.
A Rs 5,000 payment abroad on HBL credit card costs about Rs 5,257, which is Rs 257 more. Rs 25 of that is 236Y advance tax, which you can claim back in your tax return.
- Price 95.1%
- Fees and tax 4.9%
Same payment on every card, cheapest first
| Card | Foreign transaction fee | You pay | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBL credit card You are here | 4% | Rs 5,257 | Rs 257 |
| MCB credit card | 4% (min Rs 100) | Rs 5,257 | Rs 257 |
| Meezan debit card | 4% | Rs 5,257 | Rs 257 |
| Allied credit card | 4% | Rs 5,257 | Rs 257 |
| MCB debit card | 4.4% (min Rs 100) | Rs 5,280 | Rs 280 |
| UBL credit card | 4.5% (min Rs 100) | Rs 5,286 | Rs 286 |
| UBL debit card | 4.5% (min Rs 150) | Rs 5,286 | Rs 286 |
| Bank Alfalah credit card | 4.5% (min Rs 125) | Rs 5,286 | Rs 286 |
| Bank AL Habib credit card | 4.5% | Rs 5,286 | Rs 286 |
| Askari credit card | 4.85% | Rs 5,306 | Rs 306 |
| Bank of Punjab credit card | 5% | Rs 5,315 | Rs 315 |
| Standard Chartered credit card | 6% | Rs 5,373 | Rs 373 |
| SadaPay debit card | 6% | Rs 5,373 | Rs 373 |
| JS Bank credit card | 5% (min Rs 450) | Rs 5,547 | Rs 547 |
Source: Finance Act 2026 (236Y, 0.5%) and the banks' Schedules of Charges, 2026
236Y is now 0.5%, not 5%
From 1 July 2026, the advance tax on card payments to anyone outside Pakistan dropped from 5% to 0.5%. The change is in the Finance Act 2026, and FBR’s Circular 2 of 2026-27 confirms it. On a Rs 5,000 payment, that is Rs 25 instead of Rs 250.
Some bank documents and older articles still show the old 5% rate, and a 10% rate for people not on the Active Taxpayers List. The law now sets 0.5%. If you are not on the Active Taxpayers List, the Tenth Schedule’s general rule (100% more for non-filers) points to 1%, but no FBR document states a 236Y non-filer rate, so banks may differ. If your statement shows a different deduction, ask your bank which rate it applied.
What a foreign payment actually costs
Three things are added to the price:
- The bank’s foreign transaction fee. Usually 4% to 4.5% of the amount, and up to 6% on some cards. Some banks also charge a minimum, like JS Bank’s Rs 450, which hurts on small payments.
- Tax on that fee. Banks add federal excise duty or provincial sales tax on their fee, usually 16%. So a 4% fee really costs about 4.64%.
- 236Y advance tax. 0.5% of the rupee amount, collected by your bank.
Put together, a payment on a 4% card costs about 5.14% more than the price. On Rs 100,000 that is about Rs 5,140.
Which card is cheapest?
The table under the calculator puts the same payment on every card we checked, cheapest first. At the time of writing, cards charging 4% (HBL and MCB credit cards, Meezan debit, Allied credit) come out cheapest. Bank of Punjab charges up to 5%, and Standard Chartered and SadaPay up to 6%. Fees change twice a year when banks publish new Schedules of Charges, so check your bank’s latest schedule before a big payment.
Can you get the 236Y back?
Yes. 236Y is an advance tax, which means it counts towards your income tax for the year. When you file your return, add up the 236Y shown on your card statements and claim it as tax already paid. The bank fee and the tax on the fee are not refundable.
Ways to pay less
- Use the card with the lowest foreign transaction fee for subscriptions and online shopping.
- Bunch small payments where you can if your card has a minimum fee.
Common questions
Does 236Y apply to money I send abroad by bank transfer?
Section 236Y covers payments made with credit, debit and prepaid cards to a person outside Pakistan. Wire transfers are handled under other rules.
Why is the rupee amount different from the price I saw?
Banks convert at the rate on the day the payment settles with Visa or Mastercard, which can be a day or two after you paid. Enter the rupee amount from your statement to see exactly what you paid in fees and tax.
Where do these figures come from?
The 236Y rate is from the Finance Act 2026 and FBR Circular 2 of 2026-27. Bank fees are from each bank’s own Schedule of Charges or card terms for 2026, listed against each card in the table.
Related
For annual fees, late payment and cash advance charges, see credit card charges in Pakistan. To use your card without paying more than you need to, read how to use a credit card in Pakistan.