A high-ranking government source confirmed that the customs duty on iPhones has not changed.
The source, who spoke to Al-Masry Al-Youm on condition of anonymity, explained that Apple, the global iPhone manufacturer, informed its agents and the Customs Authority of the new circulating prices, which will increase in accordance with its marketing policy.
He added that the Customs Authority obtained the new price data, based on agreements concluded with these parties, and circulated it to customs ports and outlets.
“The company’s price has increased, but the customs tax treatment has not changed,” the source explained.
New iPhone custom duty prices
The head of the Telecommunications and Mobile Phones Division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Mohamed Talaat, explained that the government began implementing the increase in customs duties on iPhone imports by more than 50 percent at the beginning of this week.
He added that this increase will negatively impact merchants and the local market, leading to a 25 to 65 percent increase in iPhone prices.
According to Talaat, customs duties on the iPhone 16 Pro Max increased to LE 26,100, up from LE 20,000, while duties on the iPhone 15 Pro Max increased to LE 24,250, up from LE 17,400.
Duties on the iPhone 11 increased by 51 percent, reaching LE 5,600, up from LE 3,700, while duties on the iPhone 12 increased to LE 7,150, up from LE 4,800.
Talaat added that the Mobile Division submitted a request to the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) last month to reduce customs duties on all older models, noting that the prices of these models are declining significantly in the global market.
However, NTRA has not yet responded to the request.
Talaat confirmed that the new customs duty increases were applied to iPhones only, adding, “I don’t know the reason yet, but it may be applied to other companies in the coming days.”
The NTRA announced that it had suspended 60,000 mobile devices after detecting cases of tampering and fraudulent attempts to obtain customs exemptions, according to a statement issued late July.
In the same statement, NTRA indicated that it had confirmed cases of tampering with 13,000 mobile devices that had obtained exemptions illegally and in violation of regulatory procedures.
The remaining 47,000 devices verified to be legitimate were reactivated.
Government combats phone smuggling
The government launched a new electronic system at the beginning of this year to govern the mobile market in Egypt and prevent mobile phone smuggling within the local market.
The new system applies to new phones purchased after January 1, 2025, and is not retroactive, according to a joint statement from the Ministries of Finance and Communications at the beginning of this year.
Customs duties on mobile phones are approximately 38.5 percent, and each citizen has the right to import one personal phone exempt from customs duties.
Citizens can register their imported mobile phones in the new electronic system via the “Telephony” app, without having to consult customs officers.
They can inquire about the amount of fees due and pay them online within a three-month period.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
