FBR Digital Invoicing Integration (2026): A Step-by-Step Guide
FBR digital invoicing integration in 6 steps (Oct 2026): DI API v1.12, free sandbox and 5-year token, 3 routes compared by cost and time, and a worked invoice.
In short: FBR digital invoicing integration is the live link that sends each sales tax invoice from your billing to FBR. It takes 6 steps. FBR charges nothing for it. A ready platform can post your first live invoice the same day.
FBR digital invoicing integration: the short answer
FBR digital invoicing integration connects your billing software to FBR through the DI API v1.12. You can do it through PRAL (FBR's own technology company), a licensed integrator, or your own developers. Updated: October 2026.
Five facts to remember. FBR charges Rs 0 for the API, sandbox and token. Sandbox and production tokens issued through PRAL last 5 years. PRAL whitelists 1 to 3 IP addresses by hand. A private licensed integrator may charge at most Rs 10 per invoice. The penalty for staying outside the system starts at Rs 1,000,000.
By the Digi Invoice team at S.M. Raheel & Company — tax advocates, Faisalabad.
What is FBR digital invoicing integration?
Integration is the live link between your billing and FBR's Digital Invoicing system. It uses the DI API v1.12 (API means a connection that lets two software systems talk to each other). Every sales tax invoice is sent to FBR the moment you issue it.
FBR checks the invoice and saves it. It then sends back an IRN (Invoice Reference Number — the unique number FBR gives every invoice) and a Version 2.0 QR code (a square barcode anyone can scan to verify the invoice). You must print both on the invoice, along with the FBR Digital Invoicing logo.
If your business category is notified (FBR has named it and set a deadline), you cannot issue a valid sales tax invoice without this link. The penalty for staying outside the system starts at Rs 1,000,000 under section 33(25) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990. See who must use FBR digital invoicing.
How do I integrate my billing software with FBR digital invoicing?
- Check your registration. You need an active NTN and STRN (Sales Tax Registration Number) on IRIS, FBR's online tax portal.
- Choose your route. Build your own link, use PRAL, or use a ready platform (see the table below). If you use PRAL, send the 1 to 3 fixed IP addresses (internet addresses that do not change) of the computers or server that will post invoices.
- Get your sandbox token. The sandbox is FBR's free practice system, where test invoices do not count as real. A token is a secret access key. Step-by-step help is in how to get the FBR sandbox and production token.
- Pass the sandbox tests. Post the test scenarios that match your sale types until each one is accepted.
- Get your production token. Production is the live system. From now on, every invoice is real and counts for tax.
- Post and print live invoices. Each invoice gets an IRN and QR code. Keep a record of every posted invoice.
What FBR checks on every invoice (DI API v1.12)
Each invoice needs seller and buyer details in the right NTN or CNIC format. For every item, it needs the HS Code (a standard product number), the unit of measure, the quantity, the value and the tax.
The rules cover every FBR sale type: standard rate, reduced rate, zero rate, exempt, fixed tax, 3rd Schedule (goods taxed on the printed retail price) and more. Some sale types also need an SRO schedule number. FBR first runs a check without saving (called "validate"), then saves the invoice (called "post"). If something is wrong, FBR rejects the invoice and returns an error code. The FBR error codes list explains each one.
What do I need ready before I start?
- An active NTN and STRN, and your IRIS login.
- A product list with the HS Code and unit of measure for each item. Most rejections come from a wrong HS Code or unit.
- Your buyers' NTN or CNIC (the 13-digit national ID number). Unregistered buyers are allowed, but the invoice must say so.
- The sale types you use: standard rate, reduced rate, exempt, 3rd Schedule and so on. Each one has its own sandbox test.
- One person who keeps the token safe. Anyone with the token can post invoices in your name.
Which integration route should I choose?
There are three routes. The table compares them on cost, time and upkeep (the work of keeping the link working when FBR changes the rules).
| Route | Time to first live invoice | Typical cost | Who keeps it updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Own developers on the DI API | Several weeks | Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000 one time, plus upkeep | Your IT team | Large firms with their own ERP |
| PRAL + a ready platform | Same day, once the token is issued | Rs 0 to FBR and PRAL; software plan only (Digi Invoice: price on request) | The platform | Shops, traders, distributors and SMEs |
| Private licensed integrator | Depends on the integrator | Up to Rs 10 per invoice, Rs 100,000 a month or Rs 1 million a year | The integrator | Firms that want full service |
Not sure which suits you? Read licensed integrator vs PRAL or the PRAL digital invoicing guide.
Worked example: one invoice from billing to FBR
A Faisalabad yarn trader sells 15 bags at Rs 4,000 each to a registered buyer. Here is what happens after he presses "Save".
- The billing software builds the invoice: value Rs 60,000, sales tax at 18% Rs 10,800, total Rs 70,800. It adds the HS Code, unit (bags), seller NTN and buyer NTN.
- It sends the invoice to FBR to validate (a check that saves nothing). FBR replies that every field is correct.
- It sends the same invoice to post. FBR saves it and returns the IRN.
- The printed invoice now shows the IRN, the QR code and the FBR Digital Invoicing logo. The buyer can scan the QR code to check it.
- If the HS Code had been wrong, FBR would have rejected the invoice at step 2 with an error code. The trader fixes it and sends it again. Nothing wrong reaches FBR's records.
To see the actual data fields, read the FBR digital invoicing API sample payload.
Build it yourself, or use a ready platform?
Build it yourself. Your developers write the API link. They handle tokens, the data for every sale type, error codes, QR printing, retries when a call fails, and updates each time FBR changes the rules. For most small and medium businesses, this is weeks of skilled work, and the upkeep never ends. A custom build in Pakistan typically costs Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000 one time.
Use a ready platform. The link is already built and kept up to date for you. With Digi Invoice you create an account, enter your business and FBR details, and post your first compliant invoice the same day. Each invoice is checked against the v1.12 rules before it is sent. The FBR invoice number, QR code and logo print for you, and every posted invoice stays in your ledger. Both sandbox and production are supported. Compare options in best FBR digital invoicing software in Pakistan, or create a free Digi Invoice account.
Need help with integration?
Stuck on a token, an IP address or a sandbox test? Contact Digi Invoice — WhatsApp 0300 8680363, Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Ready to start? Create your free account.
Difficult words in this guide
- Integration: the live link between your billing and FBR.
- IRN: the unique number FBR gives every invoice.
- Sandbox: FBR's free practice system; test invoices do not count.
- Token: a secret key that lets your software send invoices to FBR.
- HS Code: a standard number that tells FBR what the product is.
- Fixed IP address: an internet address that does not change; PRAL only accepts invoices from addresses it has whitelisted.