An NTN (National Tax Number) is your registration number with FBR. Individuals register through the IRIS portal using a CNIC, a mobile number in their own name, an email address and proof of address. NTN verification is free and instant through FBR's online service, and it confirms registration status, not filing status.
NTN, filer and ATL are three different things
These get used interchangeably and they should not be. The distinction decides what withholding rate you pay.
| Term | What it actually means | How it is checked |
|---|---|---|
| NTN | You are registered with FBR. Nothing more. | Online NTN verification by CNIC or NTN |
| Filer | Your return for the relevant year has been filed | Active Taxpayer List |
| ATL | The published list of taxpayers who filed on time | FBR's Active Taxpayer List lookup |
So someone can hold an NTN issued years ago, never file again, and still be treated as a non-filer at the bank and the property registry. If your reason for checking is to know what withholding rate applies, the ATL is the list that matters, not the NTN.
How to register for an NTN
- Go to the IRIS portal at iris.fbr.gov.pk and choose registration for an unregistered person.
- Enter your CNIC along with a mobile number registered in your own name and an email address. Both receive verification codes, so they must be ones you control.
- Provide your address and supporting evidence such as a utility bill.
- For a business, add the business name, address, nature of activity, and bank account details.
- Complete verification and your NTN is issued against your CNIC.
How to verify an NTN online
FBR provides free online verification through its e-services portal. You enter the CNIC or the NTN, and the system returns the registration held against it. It takes seconds and costs nothing.
What you get back is a registration status. What you do not get is any indication of whether the taxpayer is current on filings, financially sound, or a reasonable party to extend credit to. That is a different question, and one an NTN check cannot answer.
Verifying a counterparty properly
NTN verification is a sensible first step before doing business with a company, and it is free, so there is no reason to skip it. But it is a existence check, not a risk assessment.
If you are about to extend trade credit or sign a supply agreement, the questions that matter are whether the company pays its suppliers, how long it has traded, and who controls it. Those come from a business credit report rather than a registry lookup. In Pakistan the gap matters more than elsewhere, because a large share of commerce runs through unregistered firms that return nothing from any registry search at all.
Common problems
- Mobile number not in your own name. IRIS requires the number to be registered against your CNIC. A number in a family member's name will fail verification.
- Email already used. One email cannot be attached to two registrations.
- Address mismatch. The address you enter should match the evidence you upload.
- Assuming registration is enough. Registering and then never filing leaves you a non-filer, which is where the real cost sits. Our tax filing service covers keeping the return current.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an NTN online by CNIC?
FBR provides online NTN verification through its e-services portal. You enter the CNIC or NTN number and the system returns the registration status held against it. The check is free and instant, and it confirms registration rather than whether the taxpayer is currently filing.
Is an NTN the same as being a filer?
No, and this is the most common misunderstanding. An NTN means you are registered with FBR. Being a filer means your return for the relevant year has been filed and you appear on the Active Taxpayer List. Someone can hold an NTN for years and still be a non-filer for withholding purposes.
How do I register for an NTN in Pakistan?
Individuals register through FBR's IRIS portal using their CNIC, a registered mobile number and email, and proof of address. Businesses additionally provide their registration documents and bank details. For a company being incorporated, the NTN is issued automatically through SECP's integrated registration, so no separate application is needed.
Can I verify a company's NTN before doing business with it?
Yes. NTN verification confirms that a business is registered with FBR and returns the status on record. Treat it as one input rather than a verdict: it tells you the entity is registered, not whether it pays suppliers on time or is financially sound. For that you need a business credit report.
What documents are required for NTN registration?
For an individual: CNIC, a mobile number registered in your own name, an email address, and evidence of your residential address such as a utility bill. For a business: the same for the principal, plus business registration documents, proof of the business address, and bank account details.
Need an NTN registered or a return filed?
Tell us where you are starting from and we will confirm what is needed and what it costs.