If you export software, IT services or IT-enabled services from Pakistan, the registration that matters most after your company and your NTN is the one with the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). PSEB, which works under the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, registers software houses, IT and IT-enabled service companies, call centres and individual freelancers.
Registration is what makes an exporter eligible for the concessionary tax treatment on IT export income, and for a call centre it is a condition of operating at all. This guide explains which registration category you need, what to prepare, the mistake that gets most applications rejected, and what you have to do every year to keep the certificate valid.
Who registers with PSEB?
| Category | Who it is for | What to have in place first |
|---|---|---|
| IT or ITeS company | Software houses, app and web developers, SaaS firms, BPO and other IT-enabled service companies | SECP registration (or a registered partnership or sole proprietorship), an NTN and a business bank account |
| Call centre | Inbound and outbound call centres and contact centres | Company registration, an office location and static IP addresses for operations |
| Freelancer | Individuals earning from foreign clients through platforms or direct contracts | A CNIC, an NTN and a bank account that receives the export proceeds |
If you work alone and expect to stay that way, register as a freelancer. If you plan to hire, sign contracts with foreign companies in a business name, or take investment, register a company first. Our guide to Single Member Company vs private limited company helps you pick the structure.
What PSEB registration does for an IT exporter
- Tax treatment of export income. PSEB-registered exporters can qualify for a concessionary final tax on IT export proceeds received through banking channels, instead of normal income tax on that income. The rate and the period it applies to are set in the Finance Act, so confirm the current terms with your tax adviser before relying on them.
- A licence to operate, for call centres. A call centre needs a valid PSEB certificate, and then IP whitelisting of its static IP addresses through PSEB.
- Credibility. Banks, foreign clients and government IT programmes treat PSEB registration as evidence that you are an established IT business.
Registration is the gateway to the tax concession, not the whole of it. You still need to receive export proceeds through proper banking channels, keep your records, and file your returns with the FBR. Our page on FBR tax compliance covers those obligations.
Documents to prepare
Requirements are set by PSEB and can change, so check the current list on the PSEB registration portal before you apply. A company application typically needs:
- Certificate of incorporation and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, or the partnership deed or proprietorship documents
- NTN certificate and proof of active taxpayer status
- CNICs of directors or partners
- Proof of the office address, such as a tenancy agreement or ownership documents, and utility bills
- Company profile describing the IT services you provide and your foreign clients
- Bank account details, and evidence of export proceeds if you already have them
Freelancers need far less: a CNIC, an NTN, and a description of the services they provide and the platforms or clients they work through. If you do not have an NTN yet, our NTN registration guide explains the steps.
The mistake that gets applications rejected
PSEB reads your company documents. If your SECP objects describe general trading, import and export, or consultancy, while your PSEB application describes software development, the application can be rejected because the declared business does not match the company you registered.
This is why the objects clause matters at incorporation. If you are forming a company to export IT services, make sure its principal line of business says so from the start. If your company already exists with the wrong objects, alter them with the SECP before you apply. Our guide to SECP company registration services explains why the objects clause decides later approvals.
How registration works
- Create an account on the PSEB portal and choose the right category: company, call centre or freelancer.
- Complete the application and upload your documents.
- Pay the registration fee. PSEB's company fees are tiered by annual revenue, with separate charges for branch offices. The freelancer fee is much lower. The current schedule is on the PSEB portal.
- Respond to any query from PSEB about your documents or activities.
- Download your PSEB certificate once the application is approved.
- If you run a call centre, apply for IP whitelisting of your static IP addresses next.
Keeping your registration valid
PSEB registration is not permanent. The certificate has to be renewed every year, and if you renew after it expires you pay a surcharge on top of the renewal fee. Renewing late does not extend the certificate, either: according to PSEB, the certificate keeps its original dates even when it is renewed late.
The tax concession depends on a valid registration, so a lapse can cost far more than the surcharge. Put the renewal date in your compliance calendar alongside your SECP and FBR deadlines, and update PSEB whenever your office address or company details change.
Frequently asked questions
Is PSEB registration mandatory?
For call centres, in practice yes, because they need a valid certificate and IP whitelisting to operate. For software houses and freelancers it is voluntary, but it is what makes you eligible for the concessionary tax treatment on IT export income.
Can a freelancer register with PSEB without a company?
Yes. PSEB has a separate freelancer category for individuals, which needs a CNIC and an NTN rather than a registered company.
How long is a PSEB certificate valid?
One year. It must be renewed annually, and late renewal attracts a surcharge.
Does PSEB registration replace FBR filing?
No. You still need an NTN and must file your income tax returns. PSEB registration affects how your IT export income is taxed, not whether you file.
How Connect Engineers & Consultants can help
CEC registers IT businesses in the right order: the company, with objects that match your IT services, then the NTN, then the PSEB application and the annual renewals. It is part of our specialized industry licensing work. We also build the products: custom software, web and mobile apps.
Exporting IT services? Talk to our team about getting your company and PSEB registration right first time.
PSEB fees, documents and procedures, and the tax treatment of IT exports, are revised from time to time. Always confirm the current position with PSEB and your tax adviser before applying.
