How to check filer status in Pakistan: ATL check by SMS, online and by NTN

Three ways to check the Active Taxpayer List

1. By SMS (fastest)

Send ATL (space) 13-digit CNIC to 9966. The reply says Active or Inactive with the date. For a company or AOP, send ATL (space) 7-digit NTN.

2. Online

Open the FBR website → Online Verifications → Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax). Enter the CNIC or NTN, the captcha, and check. The result shows the name, registration number and status.

3. Download the full list

FBR publishes the complete ATL as a downloadable file every Monday. Useful for businesses that need to verify many vendors at once.

What "filer" and "non-filer" mean

A filer is a person whose name appears on the ATL because they filed the return for the latest tax year (or paid the surcharge to be added). A non-filer pays higher withholding rates under the Tenth Schedule, roughly double on vehicle registration, property transactions, bank profit and more. See what non-filers pay extra.

Why you might show as inactive

• You registered on IRIS but never submitted a return.
• You filed after the deadline and did not pay the Rs 1,000 ATL surcharge.
• The ATL updates weekly; a return filed on Tuesday appears the following Monday.
• The new tax year's ATL replaced the old one (published 1 March each year) and you have not filed for the new year yet.

How to become active

File the return for the latest tax year on IRIS, the step-by-step guide, or, if the deadline has passed, file and pay the surcharge through a PSID generated in IRIS. Status updates on the next Monday.

Checking someone else's status

Businesses routinely check vendors and buyers before applying withholding. The SMS and web checks work for any CNIC or NTN; no login is required.