Filer Status Check Online: ATL Check by SMS 9966 & FBR Website (2026)
Quick answer
To check your filer status, send an SMS in the format "ATL 1234512345671" (ATL, a space, then your 13-digit CNIC) to 9966, or use the Active Taxpayer List search on FBR's website. "Active" means you are a filer; "not active" means you must file your income tax return (and pay the ATL surcharge if late).
Table of contents
- Method 1: Filer status check by SMS (9966)
- Method 2: Check ATL on the FBR website
- Method 3: Tax Asaan app
- What your ATL result means
- Why am I not on the ATL even after filing?
- Where your filer status matters
- Updating your filer status with your bank
- ATL for AOPs and companies
- How to become active again
- Urdu mein khulasa
- Frequently asked questions
Your filer status decides how much withholding tax banks, property registrars and excise offices deduct from you. It is based on FBR's Active Taxpayer List (ATL) — if your CNIC is on it, you are a filer. Here is how to do an ATL status check in under a minute.
Method 1: Filer status check by SMS (9966)
- Open your phone's messages app.
- Type
ATL, a space, and your 13-digit CNIC without dashes. Example:ATL 3520212345671 - Send it to 9966.
- You will receive a reply stating whether the CNIC is an active taxpayer. Standard SMS charges apply.
Tip: For a company or AOP, send ATL space the 7-digit NTN instead of a CNIC.
Method 2: Check ATL on the FBR website
- Visit FBR's official website fbr.gov.pk and open the Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax) online inquiry under e-services.
- Select the parameter type (CNIC for individuals, NTN for companies/AOPs).
- Enter the number and the date / captcha if asked.
- Submit to see the name and status.
Method 3: Tax Asaan app
FBR's official Tax Asaan app also has an ATL check. It is useful if you want to verify someone else's status — for example a buyer or seller in a property deal — because the ATL is a public list.
Note: FBR's online services send OTP codes only to a SIM registered on your own CNIC. If you use a relative's SIM, check which SIMs are on your CNIC and transfer one to your name first.
What your ATL result means
| Result | Meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Active | You are a filer for the current ATL. | Keep filing every year before the deadline. |
| Not active / not found | No return filed for the latest tax year, or filed late without surcharge. | File your return on IRIS; pay the ATL surcharge if the deadline has passed. |
Why am I not on the ATL even after filing?
- Late filing: returns filed after the due date are not added to the ATL until the ATL surcharge is paid.
- Incomplete return: a return without the required wealth statement may not count.
- Timing: FBR updates the list periodically, so a newly filed return can take some time to appear.
- Wrong tax year: the current ATL is based on returns for the latest tax year. Filing only old years does not make you active.
Where your filer status matters
| Transaction | Who checks the ATL |
|---|---|
| Property purchase and sale | Registrar / development authority deducts advance tax |
| Vehicle registration and token tax | Provincial excise department |
| Profit on bank deposits and savings certificates | Bank or National Savings |
| Registering an imported phone | PTA / DIRBS tax calculation — see PTA tax check |
| Some utility bills and mobile top-ups | Utility company / telecom operator |
Institutions check the ATL on the date of the transaction. If you are about to buy property or a vehicle, check your filer status a few weeks in advance so there is time to file if needed.
Updating your filer status with your bank
Banks apply the lower filer tax rate on profit and certain transactions automatically by checking the ATL, but the check is done against the CNIC saved in your account. If your CNIC was renewed, make sure the new expiry is updated with the bank. If tax was deducted at the non-filer rate while you were actually on the ATL, ask the bank for a tax deduction certificate — you can claim the excess as an adjustment when you file your next return on IRIS.
ATL for AOPs and companies
Businesses registered as an association of persons (AOP) or company appear on the ATL under their NTN. Companies and AOPs have different filing deadlines from individuals, and the same surcharge rule applies to late filers. Business owners should check both the business NTN and their personal CNIC, because each has its own filer status.
How to become active again
Log in to IRIS, file the missing income tax return and wealth statement, and — if you are filing after the deadline — generate a PSID for the ATL surcharge and pay it. Our step-by-step guide on how to become a filer covers the full process from registration to submission.
Warning: Some websites and agents claim to "add your name to ATL" for a fee without filing a return. That is not possible — only a filed return (and surcharge where applicable) puts you on the ATL.
Urdu mein khulasa
Filer status check karne ke liye message mein ATL likhein, phir space de kar apna 13 digit wala CNIC number bina dash ke likhein aur 9966 par bhej dein. "Active" ka matlab hai aap filer hain. Agar active nahi hain to IRIS par income tax return file karein; deadline ke baad file karne par ATL surcharge dena parta hai.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if I am a filer?
What is ATL in FBR?
I filed my return late. Will I be on the ATL?
Can I check someone else's filer status?
Accuracy note: Fees and procedures in this guide were checked on 27 September 2026. Government departments can change rules without notice — always confirm on the official portal before paying. Found something outdated? Tell us and we will correct it.
Written & reviewed by Faisal
Faisal writes practical guides on NADRA, passport, FBR and PTA procedures. Every guide is checked against the official government portal and updated when fees or rules change.