How to check your company’s tax registration status in Pakistan

 

Introduction

Whether you’re running a startup, an established business, or a foreign-owned subsidiary in Pakistan, verifying your company’s tax registration status is crucial. It ensures you’re recognized as a legitimate business by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and provincial revenue authorities, and it affects your withholding tax rates, refund eligibility, and compliance reputation.

In this complete 2025 guide, we’ll walk you through how to check your company’s NTN (National Tax Number), STRN (Sales Tax Registration Number), and Active Taxpayer List (ATL) status through official portals. We’ll also explain what to do if your business isn’t showing up and how to stay compliant.

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1. Why Is Tax Registration Status Important?

Being properly registered and active with tax authorities like FBR or PRA provides multiple benefits:

✅ Access to Active Taxpayer List (ATL)
✅ Lower withholding tax (WHT) rates
✅ Easier tax compliance and refund processing
✅ Legal recognition for contracts, tenders, and banking
✅ Enhanced credibility with clients and partners
✅ Required for SECP annual filings and audits

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2. Key Tax Identifiers in Pakistan

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3. How to Check Your Company’s NTN and ATL Status (FBR)

A. Check NTN and Registration Info

FBR offers an online Taxpayer Profile Inquiry Tool:

✅ Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Go to https://e.fbr.gov.pk

2. Click on “Taxpayer Profile Inquiry”

3. Select Organization from taxpayer type

4. Enter Company Name or NTN

5. Enter the captcha and press Verify

🔍 Output:

• NTN

• Registration Date

• Business Activity

• Office Address

• Tax Office

• STRN (if applicable)

B. Check Active Taxpayer List (ATL)

✅ Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Visit https://www.fbr.gov.pk/atl

2. Choose ATL for Companies (latest year)

3. Enter your NTN

4. Enter the captcha and click Search

📘 What It Shows:

• Your company’s inclusion in ATL (Yes/No)

• ATL status for Income Tax and Sales Tax

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4. How to Check Sales Tax Registration (STRN) with FBR

To verify if your company is registered for Sales Tax:

✅ Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Go to https://e.fbr.gov.pk/esbn/Verification

2. Select Sales Tax Registration

3. Enter your STRN or CNIC/NTN

4. Enter the captcha and click Verify

🔍 Output:

• Company name

• STRN status (Active/Inactive)

• Registration date

• Business address

• Tax office and activity

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5. How to Check Provincial Sales Tax Status (Services Sector)

A. Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA)

✅ Steps:

1. Visit: https://www.pra.punjab.gov.pk/verify_taxpayer

2. Enter your PNTN or Registration Number

3. View your company’s registration status

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B. Sindh Revenue Board (SRB)

✅ Steps:

1. Go to https://e.srb.gos.pk/Verification

2. Enter your SRB Registration Number

3. View status (Active, Suspended, Cancelled)

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C. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA)

✅ Steps:

1. Visit https://www.kpra.gov.pk

2. Use the Taxpayer Search option

3. Enter your NTN or Registration ID

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D. Balochistan Revenue Authority (BRA)

✅ Steps:

1. Visit: https://www.bra.gob.pk

2. Use taxpayer lookup to verify STRN and registration details

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6. What to Do If Your Company Isn’t Showing Up

If your tax registration isn’t appearing or shows inactive, take the following steps:

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7. How to Stay on the Active Taxpayer List (ATL)

✅ Requirements:

• File annual income tax return

• Submit wealth statement (if individual/director)

• Ensure no pending liabilities

• File within due date (usually September 30 for individuals)

📅 ATL Updates:

• ATL is updated weekly

• Annual ATL published on March 1st each year

• Filing late? ATL status is restored after penalty payment

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8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the difference between NTN and ATL?

• NTN is your tax registration number

• ATL shows that you filed your return and are an active taxpayer

Q2: Why is ATL important?

• Non-ATL companies pay higher withholding tax and face compliance issues with clients, banks, and government entities.

Q3: Can I check a vendor’s NTN/ATL?
Yes. Use the FBR ATL portal or Taxpayer Profile Inquiry to verify suppliers and partners.

Q4: What happens if my company is not on ATL?

• Banks will deduct 30%-50% more tax

• You may be ineligible for refunds

• Clients may avoid working with you

Q5: How often should I check my tax status?
At least quarterly or before every major tax filing or payment cycle

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9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Not checking ATL after filing
❌ Using incorrect NTN/STRN formats
❌ Ignoring provincial registration for services
❌ Relying only on consultants—owners must verify status themselves
❌ Missing registration in newly expanded sectors

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10. How Sterling.pk Helps You Maintain Tax Compliance

At Sterling.pk, we offer:

✅ NTN, STRN, and PNTN registration
✅ Monthly ATL status monitoring
✅ Filing of income and sales tax returns
✅ Wealth statement preparation
✅ Corporate compliance updates with SECP and FBR
✅ Resolution of inactive or suspended tax status
✅ Support with provincial STRNs and dual registration (e.g., PRA + FBR)

Our expert team ensures your company is always visible, compliant, and audit-ready in the FBR and SECP systems.

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Conclusion

Checking and maintaining your company’s tax registration status in Pakistan is a key responsibility of every business owner or finance manager. From confirming your NTN and ATL on FBR portals to verifying provincial STRNs with PRA or SRB, these small checks go a long way in ensuring smooth operations, eligibility for refunds, and avoidance of penalties.

By staying proactive and working with professionals like Sterling.pk, you can maintain your company’s compliance profile and build credibility with customers, banks, and regulatory authorities.