# PSEB registration for freelancers and IT companies: fees, documents, benefits

URL: https://which.pk/business/guides/pseb-registration/
Author: Ahtisham Imtiaz
Updated: 7 Oct 2026

## Summary

PSEB registration costs Rs 1,000 a year for a new freelancer (Rs 2,000 to renew), Rs 5,000 for an IT startup under a year old and Rs 10,000 for other IT companies. You apply on PSEB's online portal, get initial approval, pay, and receive your certificate in about 2 to 5 working days. The main benefit is tax: PSEB-registered exporters pay 0.25% on IT export proceeds instead of 1%, a rate FBR has extended to tax year 2029.

## Key facts

- Freelancer fee: Rs 1,000 a year
- Company fee: Rs 5,000–10,000
- Time: 2–5 working days
- Tax on IT exports: 0.25% vs 1%

PSEB (Pakistan Software Export Board) registration costs **Rs 1,000 a year** for a new freelancer and **Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 a year** for an IT company. You apply online, pay after initial approval, and get your certificate in about **2 to 5 working days**. The payoff is tax: registered IT exporters pay **0.25%** on export proceeds instead of 1%.

**Tax on Rs 10 lakh of IT export income:** Rs 2,500 vs Rs 10,000 (0.25% if PSEB-registered, 1% if not (section 154A, extended to tax year 2029))

## What does PSEB registration cost?

PSEB's fees as of October 2026, per year:

| Who | New registration | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | Rs 1,000 | Rs 2,000 |
| IT/ITeS startup (under 12 months old) | Rs 5,000 | by revenue, below |
| IT/ITeS company (older) | Rs 10,000 | by revenue, below |
| Call centre | Rs 20,000 + Rs 10,000 per branch | same |

Company renewal depends on annual revenue: **Rs 10,000** up to Rs 5 crore, **Rs 15,000** up to Rs 10 crore, **Rs 20,000** up to Rs 30 crore, **Rs 25,000** up to Rs 60 crore, and **Rs 30,000** above that. An expired company registration adds a Rs 5,000-a-year surcharge.

You pay through PSEB's online payment gateway or by pay order or demand draft to Pakistan Software Export Board (G) Ltd.

**One fee conflict:** PSEB's own page says freelancer renewal is Rs 2,000 a year. A Ministry of IT page that we couldn't open showed Rs 3,500 in search results. We follow PSEB's page.

## What documents do I need?

**Freelancer:**
- a personal NTN with **no business name** (see [how to get an NTN](/business/guides/how-to-get-ntn/))
- both sides of your CNIC
- a letter or certificate for your personal bank account

**Business** (sole proprietor, partnership or company):
- a business NTN
- CNICs of all owners, partners or directors (passports for foreign nationals)
- for SECP companies: memorandum and articles, Form 29 and the incorporation certificate
- for partnerships: the partnership deed, and the firm registration certificate if registered
- six months of business bank statements, or a bank letter for a new account

A sole proprietorship with a business NTN uses the business route, not the freelancer one.

## How do I register, step by step?

1. Sign up on PSEB's portal at **techdestination.com** (the old pseb.org.pk address redirects there).
2. Fill in the online form, upload your documents and submit for **initial approval**.
3. After initial approval, **pay the fee** and upload the payment receipt.
4. Submit for **final approval**. PSEB issues the certificate (or, for companies, a provisional letter valid for 90 days) in about 2 to 5 working days after verifying payment.

To renew, freelancers send a summary of export revenue under the State Bank's IT/ITeS codes and last year's income tax return. Companies send the revenue summary and their financial statements or tax return.

## What do I get?

- **Lower tax on export income:** 0.25% on IT and IT-enabled services export proceeds, against 1% if not registered. FBR's budget for 2026-27 extended this rate up to tax year 2029. See [freelancer tax in Pakistan](/business/guides/freelancer-tax-pakistan/).
- **Startups:** PSEB says registered startups get a 100% tax credit for 3 years.
- **Foreign currency:** PSEB says IT companies can keep up to 50% of export remittances in a foreign currency account for business costs.
- **Call centres:** PTA and law enforcement treat only PSEB-registered call centres as legally operating.
- **Other support** listed by PSEB: office space in Software Technology Parks, subsidised certifications, training and trade-show participation.

More guides: [Tax & Registration](/business/tax-registration/).

## Questions people ask

### What does PSEB registration cost?

As of October 2026, Rs 1,000 a year for a new freelancer (Rs 2,000 to renew), Rs 5,000 a year for an IT startup under 12 months old, Rs 10,000 for older IT companies, and Rs 20,000 for a call centre plus Rs 10,000 per branch.

### What documents do freelancers need for PSEB registration?

A personal NTN with no business name, both sides of your CNIC, and a letter or certificate for your personal bank account.

### How long does PSEB registration take?

About 2 to 5 working days after PSEB verifies your payment.

### What tax do PSEB-registered freelancers pay on export income?

0.25% of IT and IT-enabled services export proceeds, against 1% for those not registered. FBR has extended the 0.25% rate up to tax year 2029.

### Should a sole proprietor register as a freelancer or a business?

PSEB's freelancer route needs a personal NTN with no business name. A sole proprietorship with a business NTN registers through the company route, which takes proprietors, partnerships and companies.

## Sources

- [Freelancer Registration](https://techdestination.com/freelancer-registration/), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Company Registration](https://techdestination.com/company-registration/), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Call Center Registration](https://techdestination.com/call-center-registration/), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Membership Benefits](https://techdestination.com/membership-benefits/), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Withholding Income Tax Rate Card, Tax Year 2027](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/202681113864992WithholdingTaxRatesCard2027.pdf), FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Salient Features, Budget 2026-27](https://fbr.gov.pk/Budget2026-27/SalientFeatures/Salient-Feature.pdf), FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Register (Income Tax)](https://fbr.gov.pk/categ/register-income-tax/51147/30846/71148), FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Budget offers tax break to salaried class, businesses](https://www.dawn.com/news/2007489), Dawn (accessed 7 Oct 2026)