3 ways to check your ATL status
- SMS: send
ATL 13-digit-CNICto 9966. Companies and AOPs sendATL 7-digit-NTN. - Online: FBR website → Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax) → search by CNIC or NTN.
- App: FBR’s Tax Asaan app → ATL status.
What the reply means
- Active / registered as active taxpayer: you are a filer and get the lower withholding tax rates.
- Not active / not found: you are a non-filer. File your return and pay any surcharge to be added.
How to get on the ATL
- Register on IRIS if you have not already – see the NTN registration guide.
- File your income tax return and wealth statement for the latest tax year.
- If you file after the deadline, pay the ATL surcharge through a PSID challan.
- Check again after the next Monday update.
Why being on the ATL matters
On a Rs 1.5 crore property a non-filer pays Rs 15.75 lakh advance tax against Rs 1.88 lakh for a filer, and registering a 1300cc car costs a non-filer three times as much. Compare every transaction in the filer vs non-filer tax calculator, or read how to become a filer.
Your CNIC is only used on this page to build the SMS text and is not sent anywhere. The official result always comes from FBR.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check ATL by SMS?
Type ATL, a space, and your 13-digit CNIC without dashes (for example ATL 3520212345671) and send it to 9966. FBR replies with whether you are on the Active Taxpayer List. The tool above builds the message for you.
How do I check ATL online?
Go to the FBR website (fbr.gov.pk), open the Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax) search, choose CNIC or NTN and enter your number. It shows your name and status as Active or Inactive.
When is the ATL updated?
FBR issues a fresh Active Taxpayer List every year on 1 March, based on returns filed for the previous tax year, and updates it every Monday for people who file late.
I filed my return but I am not on the ATL. Why?
If you filed after the due date, you must also pay the ATL surcharge (late-filing fee) to be added; for individuals it has been Rs 1,000. Otherwise wait for the next weekly update, and check that the return was submitted, not just saved as a draft.
What happens if I am not on the ATL?
You are treated as a non-filer: banks, property registrars, excise offices and others deduct much higher withholding tax – often two to three times the filer rate.
Last reviewed: October 2026