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ATL STATUS

How to Check Active Taxpayer Status in Pakistan (ATL) via SMS & Online – FBR Guide.

As a responsible Pakistani taxpayer, one of the most important things you can do to stay compliant with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is to regularly check your Active Taxpayer Status (ATL). Whether you’re an individual salaried employee, a business owner, or part of an Association of Persons (AOP), being on the Active Taxpayer List ensures you enjoy numerous benefits — including lower tax rates on banking transactions, vehicle registration, and property transactions.

If you need help getting your NTN Registration, we’ve got you covered. Start your NTN registration process online and get registered with FBR without the usual hassle.

In this guide, we’ll show you three easy methods to check your ATL status: via SMS, online portal, and Active Taxpayer List (ATL) download. We’ll also cover how residents of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) can verify their ATL status.

What Is the Active Taxpayer List (ATL)?

The Active Taxpayer List (ATL) is a central record published by the FBR that includes the names of taxpayers who have filed their income tax returns for the latest tax year and are eligible for reduced tax rates. It is updated daily, around 07:00 PST everyday.

Being part of this list is critical if you want to:

How to Check Active Taxpayer Status via SMS

The easiest and fastest way to check your ATL status is through SMS. You don’t need an internet connection or any login credentials. Here’s how:

For Pakistani Citizens (Mainland Pakistan)

Taxpayers, other than AJ&K taxpayers, can check their active taxpayer status via SMS with following methods.

For individuals: Type “ATL (space) 13 digits Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC)” and send it to 9966.

  • Example: ATL 1234567891098

For companies or AOPs: Type “ATL (space) 7 digits National Tax Number (NTN)” and send it to 9966.

  • Example: ATL 1234567

For Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) Residents

FBR has a separate process for AJ&K taxpayers to check their active taxpayer status via SMS.

For individual persons, type “AJKATL (space) CNIC” and send it to 9966. The CNIC number should not have any spaces.

  • Example: AJKATL 1234567891098

For persons with NTN, type “AJKATL (space) 11 digit NTN number” and send it to 9966. The NTN number should not have any spaces between digits.

  • Example: AJKATL 12345678901

How to Check Active Taxpayer Status Online

FBR also offers a simple online method for verifying your ATL status through their Online Verification Portal or IRIS 2.0 system. Follow these steps:

  1. Visit the FBR Online Verifications or IRIS 2.0
  2. Scroll down to the section titled “Online Verifications”
  3. Click on “Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax)” on the left menu.
  4. Under the Parameter Type dropdown, choose CNIC (for individuals) or NTN/RegInc No. (for businesses or AOPs)
  5. In the Registration No. field: Enter your CNIC or NTN without any hyphens
  6. In the Date field: Select any date for which you want to check your ATL status (usually the current date)
  7. Enter the Captcha code as shown on the screen.
  8. Click on the “Verify” button.

Once verified, the system will display your ATL status on screen. You also have the option to print or save the result as PDF.

How to Download the Complete Active Taxpayer List (ATL)

FBR allows you to download the entire ATL database in Excel format, especially useful for businesses verifying large numbers of clients or suppliers. If you want to download the updated Active Taxpayer List, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the FBR Online Verifications or IRIS 2.0
  2. Scroll Down the page and you will see “Online Verifications“
  3. Click on Active Taxpayer Lists – Downloads on left tab.
  4. Enter a CAPTCHA code to verify that you’re not a robot.
  5. Verifying Captcha will Enable Download.
  6. Click on the “Download” button
  7. Click on Download for Income Tax & AJK.

This will initiate the download process of ATL (Income Tax) for FBR and AJK in .xlsx (excel sheet).

Understanding Taxpayer Status in Pakistan

In Pakistan, your taxpayer status directly impacts how much tax you pay and what financial privileges you can access. It affects individuals, businesses, and AOPs (Associations of Persons) who have met their income tax filing obligations for the latest tax year. Being listed in the ATL signifies that you are an active filer and are eligible for reduced withholding tax rates on financial transactions, property transfers, and other dealings.

Exclusion from the list means you are treated as a non-filer, often resulting in higher tax deductions. Therefore, the ATL serves as a vital indicator of a taxpayer’s compliance status and tax reputation in Pakistan.

Currently, taxpayers fall into one of four statuses, depending on their registration and tax return filing history:

  • Active Filer:An individual or business that files income tax returns within the prescribed deadline is listed as an active taxpayer in the Active Taxpayer List (ATL). Active filers benefit from lower tax rates on banking transactions, vehicle registration, property transfers, and more.
  • Active (Late Filer):If a taxpayer files after the due date, they are still considered active and included in the ATL but may face certain disadvantages. For instance, advance tax on property transactions is charged at double the rate compared to on-time filers, even though most other tax rates remain the same.
  • Inactive Taxpayer:Taxpayers who are registered with FBR (i.e., they have an NTN or CNIC in the system) but fail to file their tax returns are marked as inactive. This status excludes them from the ATL and results in higher withholding taxes across various transactions. However, they can regain their active status by filing the return and paying the applicable ATL surcharge.
  • No Record Found:This response means the person or entity is not registered with FBR and has no NTN issued. Such individuals are automatically treated as non-filers and face the highest tax rates. The good news is, they can register for an NTN online, free of cost, and begin the filing process to become compliant.

Understanding where you fall in this classification is essential, especially before making large transactions or interacting with banks, real estate offices, or government agencies. Always check your filer status before entering into any financial arrangement — it can save you money and help you stay compliant with Pakistan’s tax regulations.

Important Tax Dates for Tax Year 2025

  • The last date to file tax returns for Individuals and AOPs is September 30, 2025 (subject to extension).
  • For companies, the deadline is December 31, 2025.
  • The extended deadline for the previous tax year (2023–24) was October 31, 2024, for individuals and AOPs.

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