NTN Verification Guide
Before you trust an NTN on an invoice or contract, verify it. This guide explains how to check any National Tax Number or STRN on FBR's official systems, with a free format checker that catches typing mistakes first, plus a glossary of key terms.
NTN and STRN format checker
NTN is 7 digits (individual) or 8 digits (company/AOP). STRN looks like 1234567-8.
The format result will appear here.
How to verify an NTN on the official FBR systems
- FBR Active Taxpayer List (ATL): open the FBR ATL page on fbr.gov.pk, choose Income Tax, select the tax year, and search by NTN or CNIC. An active filer shows as "Active".
- Verify by SMS: type
ATL<space>CNIC(13 digits, no dashes) and send it to 9966. You get back the filer status for that CNIC. - Sales Tax (STRN): on the FBR STRN verification page, enter the STRN in the 1234567-8 form and check that the registration is live.
- IRIS portal: a person registered in IRIS (the FBR online tax portal) has an NTN or can use their CNIC as the registration number for income tax since the recent reforms.
- Cross-check details: compare the business name and registration date shown by FBR with the invoice or contract you received. Mismatches are a red flag.
Key terms explained
- NTN
- National Tax Number — the FBR registration number for income tax purposes.
- STRN
- Sales Tax Registration Number — issued to businesses registered for sales tax.
- Filer
- Someone on the Active Taxpayer List who files returns on time and pays lower withholding taxes.
- Non-filer
- Someone not on the ATL — faces higher tax rates on banking, property and vehicle transactions.
- ATL
- Active Taxpayer List — the official FBR list published for each tax year.
How to use
- Paste the NTN or STRN into the format checker above to catch typing mistakes first.
- Follow the numbered verification steps to confirm the number on FBR's own systems.
- Use the glossary to understand what each term on an invoice or contract means.
Note
This tool only checks number formats; it cannot access the FBR database. Real verification happens on FBR's official website or via the 9966 SMS service. FBR procedures change over time, so if a step no longer matches the live site, follow the instructions on fbr.gov.pk itself.