Digital Invoice Integration with FBR (DI API v1.12)
How digital invoice integration works in Pakistan: build against FBR's DI API v1.12 yourself, or go live the same day with a ready, PRAL-certified platform.
What does 'digital invoice integration' mean?
Digital invoice integration is the link between your billing and FBR's Digital Invoicing (DI) API. An API is a connection that lets two software systems talk to each other. Every sales tax invoice you issue is sent to FBR in real time. FBR checks it, saves it, and sends back a unique invoice number and a Version 2.0 QR code (a square barcode) that you must print on the invoice.
Without a working link, a notified business cannot issue a valid sales tax invoice. "Notified" means FBR has named your business category and set a deadline to join.
What the v1.12 rules ask for
The current DI API version is v1.12. It sets the shape of the invoice and the rules FBR checks. Each invoice needs seller and buyer details with the right NTN or CNIC format, and for every item: the HS Code (a standard product number), the unit of measure, the quantity, the value and the tax.
It also covers all FBR sale types — standard rate, reduced rate, zero rate, exempt, fixed tax, 3rd Schedule and more — and the SRO schedule number where one is needed. FBR first validates the invoice (a dry run), then posts it. If anything does not match the rules, FBR rejects it and returns a clear error code.
Route 1 — build it yourself
A direct link means your own developers build the API connection. They handle sign-in with FBR tokens (secret access keys), the data for every sale type you use, error handling for FBR's error codes, QR code printing, retries when a call fails, and upkeep every time the rules change.
For most small and medium businesses, this is weeks of skilled work. It is also a job that never ends, because the system must be kept up to date.
Route 2 — use a ready platform (same-day)
The other way is a platform that has already built the link and keeps it up to date. With Digi Invoice you create an account, finish a guided setup with your business and FBR details, and post your first compliant invoice the same day.
The platform checks each invoice against the v1.12 rules before it is sent. It handles the tricky sale types (like 3rd Schedule and reduced-rate goods), prints the FBR invoice number, QR code and logo for you, and keeps a full ledger with bulk PDF printing. Both the sandbox (FBR's free practice system) and production (the live system) are supported.