The facts, in short
- What it is: FBR's official list of taxpayers who have filed their returns.
- How to check: Enter your CNIC (13 digits) or NTN (7 digits) on the FBR ATL page.
- What's at stake: Filers pay lower withholding tax; non-filers pay higher rates — often double.
- To get back on: File the missed return and pay any surcharge and restoration fee.
What the Active Taxpayers List is
The ATL is published and maintained by the FBR. It lists everyone who has filed their income tax return for the relevant tax year. Being on the list is not a badge — it is a price. Your ATL status decides the withholding rate applied to you at the bank, the property registrar, the vehicle registration office and on most contracts.
Filers get the lower rate. Non-filers get a higher rate. In many cases the difference is roughly double, which is why falling off the list quietly costs money all year.
How to check your ATL status
- Go to the FBR ATL page. FBR publishes the current ATL, searchable by CNIC or NTN.
- Enter your CNIC or NTN. A 13-digit CNIC or a 7-digit NTN.
- Read the result. A current, active entry means you are on the list for that year. No entry, or an inactive entry, means you are not.
- Check the tax year. ATL status is year-specific — being on last year's list does not help you this year.
Don't want to visit the FBR site? Our filing page checks your ATL status by CNIC or NTN and tells you exactly where you stand before you file.
What ATL status actually saves you
- Bank transactions. Lower withholding on cash withdrawals and certain banking transactions.
- Property. Lower withholding on buying and selling immovable property, and no restriction on the transfer.
- Vehicles. Lower withholding at registration and transfer. Non-filers can face higher rates and limits on how many vehicles they can register.
- Contracts and services. Lower withholding on contract payments and many services.
- Prize bonds, dividends and profit. Lower rates apply across the board.
How you fall off the list
You drop off the ATL when you do not file your return for the relevant tax year. That is the whole mechanism. There is no warning letter that costs you anything — the cost shows up as higher withholding the next time you transact.
Because ATL status is year-specific, a single skipped year is enough. Even people with no taxable income fall off if they don't file a nil return.
How to get back on the ATL
- File the outstanding return. File for the missed tax year on Iris, declaring your income for that year.
- Pay the surcharge. Late filing usually attracts a surcharge on the tax due.
- Pay the restoration fee where applicable. Rejoining the ATL after missing a year can involve a restoration fee (Rs 25,000 for individuals, higher for AOPs and companies).
- Confirm your status. Once the return is processed, re-check the ATL to confirm you are active for the year.
Get active. Stay active.
We file your return — nil or otherwise — so you are back on the Active Taxpayers List and paying the lower withholding rate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my ATL status in Pakistan?
Check your status on the FBR ATL page using your CNIC or NTN. A green/active result means you are on the list; an inactive result means you are not, and higher withholding rates apply.
What is the Active Taxpayers List?
The ATL is FBR's official list of taxpayers who have filed their returns. Being on it entitles you to lower withholding tax rates and avoids restrictions on property and vehicle transactions.
How do I get back on the ATL if I'm inactive?
File the outstanding return for the missed year and pay any surcharge. Once the return is processed you are placed back on the ATL, though you may also owe a restoration fee.
How does the ATL change my withholding tax?
Filers on the ATL pay lower withholding tax on bank transactions, property, vehicles and contracts. Non-filers pay a higher rate — often double — on the same transactions.