FBR NTN Verification Guide
A National Tax Number (NTN) is issued by the Federal Board of Revenue of Pakistan. Before you rely on an NTN from an invoice, contract, or supplier, make sure it is valid and active. This guide gives you a live format checker, the official verification methods, a step tracker, and fixes for the most common problems.
Note: This page is an educational guide. Actual verification always happens on the official FBR systems, such as the Active Taxpayer List (ATL) and the FBR IRIS portal. This page only prepares and checks the format of the number for you.
Live NTN format checker
A valid Pakistani NTN for an individual or business looks like 1234567-8: exactly 7 digits, a hyphen, then 1 final digit. Type a number below and the checker validates it as you type.
The format result will appear here.
Verification methods (official channels)
- Open the SMS app on your mobile phone.
- Type NTN, a space, then the 7-digit NTN. Example:
NTN 1234567 - Send the message to 9966.
- You receive a reply with the taxpayer status linked to that NTN.
For income tax filer status you can also send ATL<space>CNIC (13-digit CNIC without dashes) to 9966.
- Open the official FBR portal (fbr.gov.pk) and go to the Active Taxpayer List page.
- Select Income Tax and choose the current tax year.
- Enter the NTN or the linked CNIC and run the search.
- If the person appears as Active, the NTN is a live filer record.
- Go to the FBR IRIS portal, the online tax filing system.
- Registered taxpayers can log in and view their profile, NTN details, and registration date.
- For sales tax, check the STRN (in the 1234567-8 form) on the STRN verification page to confirm the registration is live.
- Cross-check the business name and registration date against your invoice or contract.
My verification checklist
Your progress is saved in this browser automatically.
Common reasons an NTN shows as unverified, and fixes
| Problem | Likely reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Typing error | A wrong digit or a missing hyphen in the 7-digit plus check-digit format | Re-check the number with the format checker above, then try again |
| Inactive status on ATL | The taxpayer did not file a recent return, so the record is not active | The person must file the missing return through IRIS; status updates after processing |
| Wrong number type | You entered a CNIC where an NTN was expected, or a sales tax STRN in an income tax field | Use the NTN for income tax checks and the STRN for sales tax checks |
| Newly issued NTN | Registration done very recently may not appear on ATL yet | Wait a few working days and check again; SMS reply is often faster |
| Name or date mismatch | The FBR record belongs to someone else, or the invoice was typed wrong | Ask the supplier for an official registration letter and compare carefully |
| Company not found | Company NTNs follow a different pattern than individual NTNs | Verify the exact number from the company registration documents |
Frequently asked questions
An individual or business NTN is written as 7 digits, a hyphen, and 1 check digit, for example 1234567-8.
No. This page only checks the number format and guides you. Real verification happens on the official FBR systems (SMS 9966, the ATL page, or the IRIS portal).
NTN is the National Tax Number for income tax. STRN is the Sales Tax Registration Number used for sales tax. They are verified on different FBR pages.