You reach the Excise office at 2:30 PM with your registration book in hand, and the vehicle counters closed an hour ago. It happens to a surprising number of people, mostly because the hours published online do not agree with each other.
This guide fixes that. It pulls together the timings published by the Excise & Taxation Department Islamabad and ICT Administration, the H-9 address, every contact channel we could verify, and the online options that can save you the trip altogether. Where official sources disagree, we say so and tell you which time to plan around.
Last verified: 12 October 2026. Timings and notices can change, so confirm before any important visit.
Islamabad Excise Office Timings at a Glance
The Excise & Taxation Department in Islamabad is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with a break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday are official holidays. For vehicle registration and ownership transfer, ICT Administration lists a shorter counter window of 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, so plan to finish before lunch.
| Detail | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Working days | Monday to Friday |
| Department office hours | 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Break | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM |
| Vehicle registration and transfer counters | 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM (ICT Administration) |
| Saturday and Sunday | Official holidays |
| Location | Adjacent to HEC Building, Service Road, Sector H-9, Islamabad |
| Helpline | 051-111-383-383 |
The practical rule is simple. If your errand involves a vehicle counter, treat 1:30 PM as your deadline and arrive well before it.
What the Official Sources Say About Islamabad Excise Office Timings
Three types of sources publish timings for this office, and they do not say the same thing. Understanding why will save you an unnecessary trip.
Department office hours
The department's own website carries a notice stating the office runs from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday, with a break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The same notice confirms that Saturday and Sunday are official holidays.
One small inconsistency is worth knowing about. The website footer shows a slightly earlier opening time of 8:00 AM, while the announcement notice says 8:30 AM. In practice, arriving close to 8:30 AM covers both.
Vehicle registration and transfer counters
ICT Administration publishes service-specific pages, and both its vehicle registration page and its vehicle transfer page list the timing as Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM.
This is the window that matters for most people. A department can be "open" until 4:00 PM while the counters that handle your specific task wrap up much earlier. If you plan around the longer department hours, you may arrive after the vehicle counters have stopped accepting applications.
Why other websites show different timings
Search for these hours and you will find pages quoting 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, others saying 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and some describing limited Saturday service from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We could not match any of these with the department's current notice or ICT Administration's service pages.
Older figures tend to survive on third-party sites long after an official schedule changes. When two sources conflict, the department's website and the ICT Administration portal win. PakWheels and similar automotive sites are useful for context and news, but they are not the authority on office hours.
Lunch Break and Friday Timings
The official break is 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Since vehicle counters are listed as closing at 1:30 PM, the lunch break matters mostly for visitors dealing with other departmental matters such as professional tax or dealer tax.
For Friday, the official notice does not publish a separate schedule. Many government offices in Pakistan adjust their midday break on Fridays for prayers, so if you plan a Friday visit, call the helpline first rather than assuming normal hours. Earlier in the day is always safer.
Is the Islamabad Excise Office Open on Saturday or Sunday?
No. The department's announcement lists Saturday and Sunday as official holidays, so the H-9 office does not run regular counters on weekends.
That said, the department has not left weekend visitors entirely without options. An APP report on the department's outreach described a weekend mobile service operating from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at F-9 Park on Saturdays and Kachnar Park on Sundays. The same report said the doorstep service continues through a dedicated helpline. You can read the details in the APP news report.
Mobile service schedules and locations can change, so confirm through the helpline before you head out on a weekend. Do not assume the service is running just because it was announced earlier.
Public Holidays and Special Closures
The office follows official government holidays. That includes Eid holidays, Pakistan Day, Independence Day, Ashura, and other days notified by the federal government. During Ramadan, government offices usually shorten their hours, and the revised schedule is announced separately each year.
Three habits help here:
- Check the department's official website for announcements a day before your visit.
- Watch for notices around long weekends, since a Friday or Monday holiday can stretch the closure.
- Call the helpline if your visit falls within two days of any public holiday.
The Pakistan government's official portal is also a reliable place to confirm national holiday notifications.
Islamabad Excise Office Location and Address
Official address: Excise & Taxation Department, adjacent to HEC Building, Service Road, Sector H-9, Islamabad.
This is the address listed by both the department and ICT Administration. The Higher Education Commission building is the easiest landmark to search for, because many map apps recognise it more reliably than the department name.
Is there more than one Excise office in Islamabad?
You will see some websites mention a "main office" in Sector G-6 and a separate "facilitation centre" in H-9. We could not confirm a G-6 office on either the department's website or ICT Administration's pages. Both list the H-9 address as the department's location.
If a source tells you to go to G-6 for vehicle work, verify it with the helpline before you travel. A wasted trip across the city costs far more than a two-minute phone call.
What is the Motor Registration Authority?
The Excise & Taxation Department also functions as the Motor Registration Authority for Islamabad. That means registration of new vehicles, ownership transfers of Islamabad-registered vehicles, and other vehicle-related work all run through the same H-9 location.
If you are new to how the department is organised, our Excise and Taxation Islamabad guide and ETO Islamabad guide explain the structure, including what ETO-I and ETO-II refer to.
How to Reach the H-9 Excise Office: Directions and Route Planning
Official sources give the address but not turn-by-turn directions. Road closures and diversions around Islamabad change often, so instead of printing a route that may be wrong next month, here is the method that works reliably.
- Open Google Maps or your preferred app and search for "HEC Building, Sector H-9, Islamabad" or "Excise & Taxation Department Islamabad."
- Check the pin sits on Service Road in H-9, next to the Higher Education Commission building.
- Use live traffic to choose your route, especially if you are travelling during morning rush hour.
- Save the pin so you can find the same spot again.
Travel time by starting point
Distance matters more than most people expect, because the vehicle counters close at 1:30 PM.
| Starting point | Planning advice |
|---|---|
| G-9, G-10, G-11, I-9, I-10 | Generally the closest sectors. A short drive in normal traffic. |
| F-10, F-11, Blue Area, Zero Point | Allow extra time. Leave early to avoid mid-morning congestion. |
| Faizabad | Traffic here can be unpredictable. Build in a buffer. |
| Rawalpindi (including Saddar) | Plan for the longest trip. Leave early and expect slower movement at peak hours. |
These are planning guides, not measured travel times. Use live traffic on the day.
Parking and accessibility
Parking availability around government offices changes with the time of day. Arriving early helps. If you are bringing an elderly family member or someone with mobility needs, call the helpline in advance to ask about assistance at the counters.
Islamabad Excise Office Contact Number, Helpline and Email
Several numbers circulate online. Here are the ones published by the department and ICT Administration.
| Contact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official helpline | 051-111-383-383 |
| Director’s office | 051-9255987 |
| ETO-I | 051-9265588 |
| ETO-II | 051-9265589 |
| Helpdesk | 051-9265500 |
| Email (announcement banner) | etd.info@islamabadexcise.gov.pk |
| Email (website footer) | excise.ict@islamabadexcise.gov.pk |
| Website | islamabadexcise.gov.pk |
Which number should you call?
Start with the helpline, 051-111-383-383. It is the department's general public number and the one displayed prominently on its website. The Director's office, ETO-I and ETO-II numbers come from ICT Administration's page and suit more specific administrative queries.
The department's website shows two email addresses, one in the announcement banner and one in the footer. Either may work, so if one bounces, try the other. Older pages also circulate a different "mail@" address, which we could not find on the current official site.
How to avoid scams and outdated numbers
The department's own guidance, echoed across several guides, is to rely on its official website and app. Copycat sites that imitate vehicle verification portals sometimes list outdated contacts or ask for fees. If a website asks for payment before showing you information that the official portal provides freely, close it.
Services Available at the Islamabad Excise Office
The department does more than most visitors realise. ICT Administration lists these services:
- Registration of vehicles
- Transfer of vehicle ownership
- Collection of professional tax
- Collection of education cess
- Collection of bed tax
- Collection of property and motor vehicle dealer tax
- Collection of tobacco vend fee
- Collection of entertainment duty
- Liquor permit issuance
For most individuals, the relevant ones are vehicle registration, vehicle transfer and annual token tax.
Vehicle registration
New vehicles go through physical inspection by a designated Excise Inspector, document verification, and then data entry. You pay the registration fee at the same window, plus number plate fees in cash. ICT Administration also notes that a late fee applies if registration is delayed beyond 60 days from the invoice date.
Vehicle ownership transfer
Transfer requires an application to the Motor Registration Authority, copies of both parties' CNICs, a signed Form F, a computerised transfer letter and the transfer of ownership form, among other documents. ICT Administration lists the processing fee for transfers as Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 3,000, paid through NBP, with a processing time of about four weeks.
Fees and processing times change, so treat these as the published figures rather than a guarantee. For the identity-verification step, read our walkthrough of NADRA e-Sahulat biometric vehicle transfer, and for the broader picture, see our guide to vehicle ownership transfer in Pakistan. NADRA's official website is the place to confirm the identity-verification process itself.
Annual token tax
Token tax is the service that brings most vehicle owners to the department each year. Under the Finance Act 2026, Islamabad moved to an invoice-value-based structure from 1 July 2026. We explain what changed in our Islamabad token tax rates guide and in the comparison of the old versus new token tax system.
Do You Really Need to Visit in Person?
Often, you do not. The department has pushed a lot of services online, and the best time-saving move is to check whether your task is one of them.
Pay token tax online
According to the department's announcement, vehicle owners can pay annual token tax for FY 2026-27 through the PAK APP or by visiting the Excise office in H-9. The City Islamabad app also supports token tax payments, as noted on ICT Administration's page.
The usual flow is to open the app, enter your vehicle details, view your dues and generate a PSID (payment slip ID), then pay through online banking, an ATM or a mobile wallet. PakWheels has a helpful step-by-step guide to paying Islamabad token tax through the app.
Two caveats from that guide are worth remembering. If your registration book has not been converted to a smart card, you may need to do that at an Excise office first. And first-time token tax payments on a vehicle may require an in-person visit.
Before you pay, you can estimate the amount with our Islamabad token tax calculator or the broader vehicle token tax calculator.
Verify a vehicle's record online
If you are buying a used car, checking the registration and tax status online before you meet the seller saves time and prevents unpleasant surprises. Our guide on how to check vehicle token tax online in Pakistan explains the process, and our checklist of used car documents in Pakistan covers what to ask for.
Doorstep and mobile services
ICT Administration states that a mobile registration service is available through the City Islamabad app and through a dedicated helpline. An Excise team visits the applicant's home at a scheduled time for services such as registration and transfer of ownership.
If your schedule does not align with the 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM counter window, this option deserves a phone call.
Online or in person: a quick comparison
| Task | Typically online | Typically in person |
|---|---|---|
| Pay annual token tax | Yes, via app | First-time or smart-card conversion cases |
| Check vehicle record | Yes | Rarely needed |
| Pay government fees for registration or transfer | Reported available via PAK App | Documents still need verification |
| Physical vehicle inspection | No | Yes |
| Biometric identity verification | Partly | Often at a NADRA e-Sahulat centre |
| Duplicate registration book or record corrections | Case by case | Usually yes |
Best Time to Visit the Islamabad Excise Office
Since the vehicle counters close at 1:30 PM, the question is not "which afternoon slot is quiet" but "how early can I arrive."
- Early morning, shortly after 8:00 AM. Queues are shortest, and any document problem leaves you time to fix it the same day.
- Mid-week. Mondays tend to be busier after the weekend, and Fridays can be affected by shortened midday schedules.
- Early in the month, and away from deadlines. Token tax deadlines produce the heaviest crowds.
Avoid arriving at noon with an incomplete file. A document correction that takes 20 minutes before 10:00 AM can cost you the entire day after 12:30 PM.
A Simple Pre-Visit Checklist
- Confirm the day is not a public holiday.
- Call 051-111-383-383 if anything about your case is unusual.
- Identify exactly which service you need: registration, transfer or token tax.
- Gather original documents and photocopies of each.
- Check that names, CNIC numbers and engine and chassis numbers match across every document.
- Estimate your fees beforehand so you carry the right payment method.
- Leave early, aiming to be at the counter before mid-morning.
Documents to Carry
Requirements vary by service, so follow ICT Administration's lists for your case.
For new vehicle registration, ICT Administration lists a photocopy of your CNIC, an application to the Excise & Taxation Officer, proof of purchase (such as a sale invoice and certificate for locally manufactured vehicles, or the Bill of Entry and Bill of Lading for imports), and proof of residence. Utility bills, a lease agreement or an allotment letter are accepted as residential proof.
For ownership transfer, you need the application to the Motor Registration Authority, copies of both CNICs, a signed Form F, the computerised transfer letter, the transfer of ownership form, and an affidavit confirming the vehicle is not stolen or involved in another case. Leased vehicles need an NOC from the bank or leasing company. Vehicles registered in another district need additional documents, including an NOC from the originating department and proof of residence in Islamabad.
ICT Administration also notes that advance tax applies to vehicles less than five years past their first registration in Pakistan, with 10% depreciation applied per year. Your filer status can change what you pay, which we explain in our guide to filer versus non-filer vehicle tax in Pakistan.
Token Tax Deadline: What the Department Announced
The department's announcement told vehicle owners to pay their annual token tax before 1 October, warning that a penalty would apply after that. Since today is past that date, owners who have not yet paid should act soon.
For what penalties look like and how to avoid them, read our guide on the Islamabad token tax late payment penalty. If you are still working out the amount, use the Islamabad token tax calculator first.
Islamabad Excise vs Rawalpindi and Punjab Excise
This confuses many people living between the twin cities. Islamabad-registered vehicles are handled by the ICT Excise & Taxation Department at H-9. Vehicles registered in Rawalpindi fall under Punjab's excise system, which has its own offices, apps and rate structures.
If you move a vehicle between regions, you will deal with both authorities. Our province-wise car token tax guide for 2026 compares the systems, and the Punjab vehicle tax calculator guide covers the Punjab side. Sindh readers can see how that province handles registration in our Sindh vehicle registration guide.
Common Mistakes That Waste a Trip
- Planning around 4:00 PM. Vehicle counters are listed as closing at 1:30 PM.
- Assuming Saturday service. The department lists Saturday as an official holiday.
- Trusting a third-party number. Use the helpline and numbers published by the department and ICT Administration.
- Going to the wrong office. Verify any claim of a second location before travelling.
- Skipping the online check. Many token tax payments and record checks do not need a visit.
- Arriving with mismatched paperwork. A small mismatch in names or engine numbers can stall an application.
- Forgetting the smart card step. If your registration book has not been converted, online payment may not work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Islamabad Excise Office timings in 2026?
The department is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with a break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Vehicle registration and transfer counters are listed by ICT Administration as 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM.
Is the Islamabad Excise Office open on Saturday?
No. The department's official notice lists Saturday and Sunday as holidays. A weekend mobile service has been reported at F-9 Park (Saturday) and Kachnar Park (Sunday), but confirm it with the helpline before relying on it.
What is the Islamabad Excise Office helpline number?
The official helpline is 051-111-383-383. ICT Administration also lists a helpdesk at 051-9265500, ETO-I at 051-9265588 and ETO-II at 051-9265589.
Where is the Islamabad Excise Office located?
It is adjacent to the HEC Building on Service Road in Sector H-9, Islamabad. Searching for "HEC Building H-9" on a map app is the easiest way to find the pin.
Does the Excise Office close for lunch?
Yes. The department lists a break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Since vehicle counters close at 1:30 PM, plan to finish your vehicle errand in the morning.
Can I pay Islamabad token tax without visiting the office?
Yes, in most cases. You can pay through the PAK APP or the City Islamabad app by generating a PSID and paying online. First-time payments or vehicles without a smart card may still need an in-person visit.
What is the email address of the Islamabad Excise Department?
The official website displays etd.info@islamabadexcise.gov.pk in its announcement banner and excise.ict@islamabadexcise.gov.pk in its footer.
Can the Excise team come to my home?
ICT Administration states that a mobile registration service is available through the City Islamabad app and a dedicated helpline. Call the helpline to ask about booking and eligibility for your specific service.
Your Next Steps
Before you leave home, do three things. Confirm the day is a working day, call 051-111-383-383 if your case is unusual, and plan to be at the counter by mid-morning rather than after lunch.
If your errand is token tax, start with our Islamabad token tax calculator to know your amount in advance, then see whether you can pay through the app and skip the trip. For other Pakistan tax and vehicle tools, browse our full set of free tax calculators or our tax and vehicle guides.