How to Register for an NTN in Pakistan
An NTN is your identity in the tax system. For an individual in Pakistan it is normally your CNIC number acting as the tax number, so registering is less about being issued something new and more about being recorded on the FBR system.
What you need before you start
- Your CNIC, valid and not expired
- A mobile number registered in your own name
- An email address you can access
- For salaried people, your employer details and salary information
- For a business, the business name, address and nature of activity
- A bank account maintained in your name or the business name
The mobile number matters more than people expect. The FBR sends verification codes to it, and a number registered against someone else will hold the process up.
How registration works
- Go to the FBR IRIS portal (iris.fbr.gov.pk) and choose the option to register as a new taxpayer.
- Enter your CNIC, mobile number and email. You will receive codes to verify both.
- Complete the registration form with your personal details, address and the source of your income.
- Submit the form. Once processed, you can log in to IRIS with the credentials you set up.
There is no fee to register.
What happens next
Registration puts you on the system. It does not make you a filer. You become a filer by submitting a return for the tax year and doing it by the due date, which then places you on the Active Taxpayers List.
So the order is: register, then file, then appear on the list. People sometimes register in September, assume the job is done, and are surprised to be treated as a non-filer at the bank in October.
If you already have an NTN and forgot
This is common, especially if an employer or an agent registered you years ago. The FBR online verification service will tell you whether your CNIC is already registered. Check before creating anything new, because a duplicate registration causes more work than it saves.
Last updated: 28 July 2026
Sources
- FBR, taxpayer registration guidance, Federal Board of Revenue (fbr.gov.pk)
- FBR IRIS portal (iris.fbr.gov.pk), registration for new taxpayers
- Income Tax Ordinance 2001, section 181 (registration of taxpayers)
This article gives general information about tax in Pakistan. It is not advice on your own situation. Rules and rates change, sometimes in the middle of a year. Before you act on anything here, check the current position with the FBR or a registered tax practitioner.
