# NTN Number Check: How to Verify NTN, ATL and STRN Online with FBR (2026)

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/guides/taxes/ntn-number-check-online)
Type: Guide
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 29 Sept 2026
Updated: 29 Sept 2026
Retrieved: 30 Sept 2026

> For individuals the NTN is simply the CNIC. Here is how to check registration, filer (ATL) status and a supplier's sales tax status on FBR's IRIS portal or by SMS to 9966.

**Quick answer (portals checked 29 September 2026):** an individual's NTN is their 13-digit CNIC. To check it, open [iris.fbr.gov.pk/#verifications](https://iris.fbr.gov.pk/#verifications), pick **Taxpayer Profile Inquiry** or **Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax)**, enter the number without dashes, solve the captcha and click **Verify**. By SMS, send `ATL 1234512345671` (your CNIC) to **9966**.

There are three official routes, and they answer slightly different questions:

- **Taxpayer Profile Inquiry**: is this person or business registered with FBR, and under what details?
- **Active Taxpayer List (ATL)**: did they file the return that puts them on the current list (the "filer" status banks and withholding agents look at)?
- **SMS to 9966**: a quick ATL check from any phone, no internet needed.

## Your NTN is your CNIC (individuals)

FBR's income tax registration page states that for individuals, the 13-digit CNIC "will be used as NTN or Registration Number". There is no separate seven-digit number to hunt for if you registered as an individual.

Companies and associations of persons (AOPs) still get a seven-digit NTN. FBR's own SMS instructions use "7 digits NTN" for AOPs and companies, so keep that number handy for business checks.

Registration and filing are also different things. Being registered means FBR has a profile for you. Being on the ATL means you filed the return for the relevant tax year. You can be registered and still show as inactive.

## Method 1: Taxpayer Profile Inquiry on IRIS

FBR replaced its older "Online NTN/STRN Inquiry" with the Taxpayer Profile Inquiry, which now sits inside the IRIS Online Verifications panel.

1. Go to [https://iris.fbr.gov.pk/#verifications](https://iris.fbr.gov.pk/#verifications). You do not need to log in.
2. In the left panel titled **Online Verifications**, click **Taxpayer Profile Inquiry**.
3. Enter the registration number: the CNIC (13 digits, no dashes) for an individual, or the seven-digit NTN for a company or AOP.
4. Type the captcha and click **Verify**.
5. Read the registration details returned. If the name does not match the person you are dealing with, stop and ask them to confirm.

The same panel also lists **Active Taxpayer List (Sales Tax)**, **Blacklisted Taxpayer List (Sales Tax)**, **Exemption Certificate**, **Computerized Payment Receipt (CPR)** and **POS Invoice Verification**. FBR's Tax Asaan mobile app carries the same Online Verification services if you prefer your phone.

## Method 2: Check ATL (filer) status online

1. On the same IRIS page, click **Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax)**.
2. Under **Parameter Type**, choose **NTN**, **CNIC**, **Passport No.** or **Reg/Inc. No.**
3. Enter the number in **Registration No.** without spaces or dashes.
4. Pick the **Date** you want the status for (today, or the date of a transaction).
5. Complete the captcha and click **Verify**.

The result shows whether the number is active on that date. FBR also lets you download the full list under **Active Taxpayer Lists - Downloads**, and has a separate **Active Taxpayer List (AJK)** check.

Banks and other withholding agents use this status when deducting tax from you, which is why FBR built the 9966 service for them too. If you withdraw cash regularly, the [cash withdrawal tax calculator](/tools/tax/cash-withdrawal-tax-calculator) shows what may be deducted.

## Method 3: SMS to 9966

FBR's ATL page gives these exact formats. Send the message to **9966**:

| Who | Message format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | `ATL` space 13-digit CNIC | `ATL 1234512345671` |
| AOP or company | `ATL` space 7-digit NTN | `ATL 1234567` |
| AJ&K individual | `AJKATL` space CNIC, no dashes | `AJKATL 1234512345671` |
| AJ&K with NTN | `AJKATL` space 11-digit NTN, no dashes | `AJKATL 12345678901` |

**Charge:** FBR's ATL page does not publish a fee for the 9966 service, and we could not find an official figure. Your mobile network may bill it like any short-code SMS, so check with your operator if cost matters.

FBR launched the 9966 service in July 2015 for taxpayers and withholding agents in areas with poor internet access.

## If no record is found

"No record found" usually means one of four things. Work through them in order.

1. **Typo or format.** Re-enter the number with no dashes or spaces, and make sure you chose the right Parameter Type (CNIC vs NTN).
2. **Not registered.** Individuals register by e-enrolling on IRIS. FBR requires a mobile SIM registered against your own CNIC and a personal email address. Online registration is for individuals only; AOPs and companies cannot self-register online. Start at [iris.fbr.gov.pk](https://iris.fbr.gov.pk/) and choose **New Registration**.
3. **Registered but not on the ATL.** FBR says the ATL is published on 1 March each year, and you are included only if you filed the return for the relevant tax year.
4. **Filed late.** Since the Finance Act 2019, late filers can join the ATL, but only after paying the ATL surcharge through a PSID under the "Misc" payment nature. FBR's page still lists Rs 1,000 (individual), Rs 10,000 (AOP) and Rs 20,000 (company); confirm the current amount in IRIS when you generate the PSID, as it may have been revised since.

If the record still looks wrong, call the FBR helpline listed on IRIS: **051 111 772 772** (8:00 AM to 11:30 PM, Monday to Friday), or email helpline@fbr.gov.pk.

Before you file, it helps to know what you owe. The [income tax calculator](/tools/tax/income-tax-calculator) gives a quick estimate for salaried and business income.

## How a business checks a supplier before invoicing

A supplier's letterhead is not proof of registration. Run three checks before you book a purchase or issue an invoice that relies on their details.

1. **Registration:** run **Taxpayer Profile Inquiry** with the supplier's NTN (or CNIC, if a sole proprietor). Confirm the legal name matches the invoice.
2. **Sales tax status:** click **Active Taxpayer List (Sales Tax)** on the same IRIS page and check that the STRN is active on the invoice date.
3. **Blacklist:** check **Blacklisted Taxpayer List (Sales Tax)** in the same panel.

Save a screenshot of each result with the date visible, and file it with the purchase record. FBR also notes that a newly registered sales tax person must complete biometric verification at a NADRA e-Sahulat centre within 30 days or face removal from the ATL, so a brand-new supplier who was active last month can drop off.

To work out the tax amount on the invoice itself, use the [sales tax calculator](/tools/tax/sales-tax-calculator).

## Common mistakes

- **Searching for a separate NTN as an individual.** Your CNIC is your NTN. Enter all 13 digits.
- **Typing dashes.** Both the IRIS forms and the SMS format expect digits only.
- **Treating registration as filer status.** Taxpayer Profile Inquiry tells you someone is registered; only the ATL check tells you they are active.
- **Checking the wrong date.** The ATL form asks for a date. For a supplier, use the invoice date, not today.
- **Checking only income tax ATL for a supplier.** Sales tax status has its own list. A business can be an income tax filer and still be inactive for sales tax.
- **Using third-party "NTN checker" sites.** They are not FBR and may be out of date. Go straight to iris.fbr.gov.pk.
- **Assuming a late return fixes ATL status.** It does not until the surcharge is paid.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is my CNIC the same as my NTN?**

Yes, for individuals. FBR states that the 13-digit CNIC is used as the NTN or registration number. Companies and AOPs have a separate seven-digit NTN.

**How do I check ATL status by SMS?**

Send ATL, a space and your 13-digit CNIC (no dashes) to 9966. Companies and AOPs send ATL, a space and their seven-digit NTN. FBR does not publish a fee for this SMS, so your operator's short-code rate may apply.

**What if IRIS shows no record for my CNIC?**

Recheck the number and parameter type first. If you are not registered, e-enrol on IRIS with a SIM and email in your own name. If you are registered but not active, you need to file the return for the relevant tax year, and late filers must also pay the ATL surcharge.

## Sources

- Active Taxpayer List (ATL): ATL status check and SMS formats (accessed 29 Sep 2026) (Federal Board of Revenue): https://www.fbr.gov.pk/categ/active-taxpayer-list-income-tax/51147/30859/71169
- Active Taxpayer List (ATL): publication date, late filers and surcharge (accessed 29 Sep 2026) (Federal Board of Revenue): https://www.fbr.gov.pk/categ/active-taxpayer-list-income-tax/51147/30859/71168
- Register for Income Tax: CNIC used as NTN for individuals (accessed 29 Sep 2026) (Federal Board of Revenue): https://www.fbr.gov.pk/categ/register-income-tax/51147/30846/71148
- IRIS 2.0 Online Verifications panel and FBR helpline (accessed 29 Sep 2026) (Federal Board of Revenue / PRAL): https://iris.fbr.gov.pk/#verifications
- Sales Tax Registration: IRIS procedure and 30-day biometric requirement (accessed 29 Sep 2026) (Federal Board of Revenue): https://www.fbr.gov.pk/categ/register-sales-tax/51148/50848/%20101152
- Explained: How to Verify Your Status on the Active Taxpayer's List (22 Sep 2022) (Zameen.com): https://www.zameen.com/blog/online-verification-services-via-tax-asaan-app.html

How to cite: "NTN Number Check: How to Verify NTN, ATL and STRN Online with FBR (2026)", Searchable, 29 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/guides/taxes/ntn-number-check-online