How to get an NTN number in Pakistan: step by step
- Open iris.fbr.gov.pk and choose "Registration for Unregistered Person".
- Enter your 13-digit CNIC without dashes and complete the captcha.
- Enter the verification codes sent to your mobile number and email.
- Complete the registration form with your name, address, occupation or business, and bank details.
- Set your password and submit. Individuals receive the NTN immediately. It is your CNIC.
- Log in and download your registration as PDF for your records.
If you cannot log in afterwards, see FBR IRIS login and registration help.
What documents do you need for FBR NTN registration?
| Applicant | Usually required |
|---|---|
| Individual (salaried or business) | CNIC, a mobile number registered in your own name, email address, residential address, bank account details |
| Sole proprietor business | The above plus business name, address and activity, and often a recent utility bill for the premises |
| AOP or partnership | Partnership deed, partners' CNICs and NTNs, business address |
| Company | SECP certificate of incorporation, MOA and AOA, directors' CNICs, registered address, bank details |
Common mistakes that delay NTN registration
- Mobile number not registered in your own name. IRIS sends a verification code by SMS, and it checks that the SIM is registered to the CNIC you are using. A number registered to a family member or an old employer is the single most common reason registration stalls.
- Email typos. The verification code also goes by email; a mistyped address means you never receive it and have to restart that step.
- Name spelling that does not match NADRA's record exactly, including small differences like a missing middle name or a different transliteration.
- Address details left vague, such as an incomplete residential or business address that IRIS's dropdowns cannot match to a valid location.
- Trying to register a business NTN before choosing a structure. A sole proprietorship uses the owner's personal NTN, while an AOP, partnership or company needs its own separate registration; starting with the wrong assumption means redoing the application.
Worked example: a freelancer registers for an NTN
A freelance graphic designer in Karachi wants to register so she can invoice clients properly and eventually claim IT-exporter tax treatment.
- She confirms her mobile SIM is registered in her own name under her CNIC, since a friend's or family member's SIM would block verification.
- She opens IRIS, selects "Registration for Unregistered Person", and enters her CNIC and basic details.
- She enters her home address as her business address, since she works from home, and lists "graphic design services" as her business activity.
- She verifies the codes sent to her mobile and email, sets a password and submits. Her NTN is her CNIC, issued immediately.
- She downloads her registration certificate as a PDF and keeps it for client contracts and bank paperwork.
- She then reads freelancer and IT exporter tax in Pakistan to understand what rate applies to her income and whether she needs to register for sales tax too.
NTN registration fee in Pakistan: what does it cost?
FBR charges nothing for NTN registration on IRIS. Any fee you pay a consultant is for preparing documents, submitting the application and fixing errors. It is never a government charge. Firms publish different prices, so compare what each includes. Our fees guide explains what is free and what is not. Be wary of anyone who quotes a "government fee" for NTN registration specifically, since FBR itself does not charge one for this step; a quote structured that way is worth double-checking.
Is a company or AOP NTN different from an individual NTN?
Yes. An individual's NTN is their CNIC. A company or AOP is a separate taxpayer and receives its own NTN, even if its owners already have personal ones. A company can register only after SECP incorporation. The order of steps is in FBR registration after SECP incorporation. Sole proprietors do not need a separate NTN; see sole proprietorship registration in Pakistan.
When should you use a consultant instead of registering yourself?
Registering an individual NTN is straightforward when your mobile number is registered in your name. Get help if the CNIC and SIM details do not match, you are registering an AOP or company, you are an overseas Pakistani (overseas Pakistani tax filing and NRP NTN), or you also need sales tax registration (sales tax registration in Pakistan (STRN)). A consultant cannot make FBR issue the NTN any faster than the portal does for a straightforward individual case; what they add is catching the small mismatches above before FBR does, and handling the AOP or company paperwork, which has more moving parts.
What to do after you get your NTN
- File your first return: income tax filing in Pakistan.
- Confirm you appear on the Active Taxpayer List: Active Taxpayer List (ATL) check by CNIC.
- Understand filer status: how to become a tax filer in Pakistan.
Roman Urdu: NTN number kaise banaye?
NTN number banane ke liye iris.fbr.gov.pk par jayen, "Registration for Unregistered Person" chunein, apna CNIC aur mobile number likhein, code verify karein aur form submit karein. Individuals ka NTN unka CNIC hi hota hai. FBR koi fee nahi leta.