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

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/guides/taxes/how-to-check-filer-status-atl-pakistan)
Type: Guide
Author: Searchable
Published: 12 Sept 2026
Updated: 15 Sept 2026
Retrieved: 15 Sept 2026

> Your filer status decides whether you pay the normal or the doubled withholding rate. Checking it takes ten seconds by SMS or on the FBR website.

**Updated 15 September 2026:** the late-filing ATL surcharge for individuals is now **Rs 25,000** (it was Rs 1,000 until 30 June 2026). Figures below were re-checked against their sources.

## Three ways to check the Active Taxpayer List

### 1. By SMS (fastest)
Send **ATL (space) 13-digit CNIC** to **9966**, for example `ATL 3520212345671`. The reply says whether you are active and the date the status was last updated.

### 2. Online
Open the FBR website and go to **Online Verifications**, then **Active Taxpayer List (Income Tax)**. Enter the CNIC or NTN, the captcha, and check. The result shows the name, registration number and status. Companies and AOPs check by NTN here.

### 3. Download the full list
FBR publishes the complete ATL as a downloadable file. 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 filed late and paid the surcharge). A **non-filer** pays higher withholding tax on vehicle registration, property transactions, bank profit, prize bond winnings and more. On a prize bond, for example, the deduction is 15% for filers and 30% for non-filers. See [what non-filers pay extra](/news/economy/filer-vs-non-filer-what-you-pay-extra-on-cars-property-and-bank-transactions).

## Why you might show as inactive

- You registered on IRIS but never submitted a return.
- You filed after the deadline and have not paid the ATL surcharge.
- Your return was filed very recently and the list has not refreshed yet. Check again after a few days.
- A new tax year's list has replaced the old one and you have not filed for the latest year.

## The late-filing surcharge (from 1 July 2026)

If you file after the due date, you are only added to the ATL after paying a surcharge through a PSID generated in IRIS. The Finance Act 2026 raised it sharply:

| Taxpayer | Before 1 July 2026 | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Rs 1,000 | **Rs 25,000** |
| Association of persons | Rs 10,000 | **Rs 50,000** |
| Company | Rs 20,000 | **Rs 100,000** |

TaxationPk reports that IRIS now enforces the Rs 25,000 payment for late individual filers, and that an individual can avoid it by filing an undertaking not to buy or acquire any immovable property for six months. Check the current option in IRIS before paying.

The cheapest route is simply to **file on time**. Work out what you owe first with the [income tax calculator](/tools/tax/income-tax-calculator).

## How to become active

File the return for the latest tax year on IRIS (see the [step-by-step guide](/guides/taxes/how-to-file-income-tax-return-pakistan)). If the deadline has passed, file and pay the surcharge through the PSID, then re-check by SMS.

## 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.

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I check my filer status by SMS?**

Send ATL, a space and your 13-digit CNIC without dashes to 9966. The reply shows whether you are on the Active Taxpayer List.

**What is the ATL surcharge for late filers in 2026?**

From 1 July 2026 it is Rs 25,000 for individuals, Rs 50,000 for associations of persons and Rs 100,000 for companies, up from Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000.

## Sources

- Documentation push: ATL surcharge goes up (14 Jun 2026) (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40425443/documentation-push-atl-surcharge-goes-up
- FBR updates IRIS, enforces Rs25,000 surcharge for individuals from July 1 (2026) (TaxationPk): https://news.taxationpk.com/fbr-updates-iris-system-enforces-rs25000-surcharge-payment-for-individuals-from-july-1/
- How to check FBR filer status (ATL): SMS and online (18 Jun 2026) (Irshad & Co): https://irshadandco.com/how-to-check-fbr-filer-status-atl-sms-online/
- Prize bonds: tax for filers and non-filers (checked 15 Sep 2026) (Central Directorate of National Savings): https://savings.gov.pk/prize-bonds/
- FBR: Active Taxpayer List (Federal Board of Revenue): https://fbr.gov.pk

How to cite: "How to check filer status in Pakistan: ATL check by SMS, online and by NTN", Searchable, 15 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/guides/taxes/how-to-check-filer-status-atl-pakistan