Check your Active Taxpayer List status online through FBR's verification portal using your CNIC or NTN, or send ATL followed by your 13 digit CNIC to 9966 by SMS. The list is updated every Monday, so a recently filed return can take up to about two weeks to appear.
The two ways to check
| Method | What you do | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Online | FBR verification portal. Enter CNIC or NTN plus the verification code. | Checking someone else, or keeping a record |
| SMS | Send ATL 3520212345678 to 9966. No dashes in the CNIC. | A quick check on your phone |
Reading the result
The status is not simply yes or no, and the middle option confuses people.
- Active. The return was filed by the due date. Filer rates apply.
- Active (Late Filer). Filed after the deadline, but the surcharge was paid, so the name still appears. Filer rates apply, but the Section 182 penalty was still incurred.
- Inactive, or not found. Treated as a non-filer for withholding purposes.
Why the status is worth money
ATL status changes the withholding rate applied to a long list of everyday transactions: bank profit, property transfers, vehicle registration, dividends, prize bonds, and contract or business payments.
For most individuals the annual tax payable is modest. The withholding difference on one property or vehicle transaction is usually not. That is the real cost of falling off the list, and it is why filing a nil return still makes sense when nothing is owed.
How to get back on the list
- File the outstanding return for the relevant tax year through IRIS.
- Pay any surcharge that applies because the return is late.
- Wait for Monday. The list refreshes weekly, so your name appears at the next update rather than instantly.
There is no separate application to join the ATL. You do not apply to be a filer. You file, and the status follows.
One list is not all lists
FBR publishes an income tax ATL and a separate sales tax active taxpayer list. Provincial authorities including PRA in Punjab and SRB in Sindh maintain their own. Being active on the income tax list says nothing about the others, so check the list that matches the tax actually in question before you rely on it.
If you would rather not deal with any of this, our tax filing service covers the return, the surcharge calculation and the ATL follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my ATL status by CNIC?
Two ways. Online, through FBR's verification portal, where you enter your CNIC or NTN and a verification code. Or by SMS: send ATL followed by your 13 digit CNIC with no dashes to 9966, and you get a reply confirming whether you are on the Active Taxpayer List.
How often is the Active Taxpayer List updated?
FBR refreshes the ATL every Monday. That means a return you filed during the week will not show up straight away. Allow up to about two weeks for a recent filing to be reflected, and do not panic if your status has not changed the next day.
What is the difference between Active and Active (Late Filer)?
Active means the return was filed by the due date. Active (Late Filer) means it was filed after the deadline but the applicable surcharge was paid, so the taxpayer is still on the list. Both keep you off non-filer withholding rates, but late filing also triggers the Section 182 penalty.
What happens if I am not on the ATL?
You are treated as a non-filer, which means higher withholding tax on bank profit, property transfers, vehicle registration, dividends, prize bonds and contract payments. On a single property transaction that difference is usually far larger than the cost of filing the return.
How do I get back on the Active Taxpayer List?
File the outstanding return for the relevant tax year and pay any surcharge that applies for late filing. Your name is added at the next Monday update. There is no separate application to join the list, since ATL status is simply a consequence of having filed.
Is there a separate ATL for sales tax?
Yes. FBR publishes an income tax ATL and a separate sales tax active taxpayer list, and provincial revenue authorities such as PRA and SRB maintain their own lists. Being active on one does not mean you are active on the others, so check the list that matches the tax in question.
Dropped off the Active Taxpayer List?
Send us the tax year and we will confirm what it takes to get you back on, and what it costs.