FBR Invoice Verification (2026): QR, SMS 9966 and IRIS

Updated October 2026. FBR invoice verification means checking that FBR has a record of an invoice. This page shows you how to check that an FBR digital invoice is real. It covers buyers, shop customers and accountants, and tells you what to do when a check fails.

There are three free ways. Scan the QR code with FBR's Tax Asaan app. Send an SMS in the format INV, then your CNIC, then the FBR invoice number, to 9966. Or, if you are a registered business, look for the invoice in Annexure-A (the purchase list in your monthly sales tax return) on IRIS (FBR's online tax portal).

Why it matters: a registered buyer can only claim input tax (the sales tax you paid on purchases, which you subtract from the tax you owe) on an invoice that carries a valid IRN (Invoice Reference Number — the unique number FBR gives every invoice it accepts). A fake or unposted invoice can cost you that claim, plus penalties.

Every posted invoice has a QR code (a square barcode your phone can scan) and the FBR Digital Invoicing logo. 'The FBR Invoice QR Code (Version 2.0) Explained' shows what the code holds.

Install FBR's free Tax Asaan app. Open the "FBR POS" menu. Tap "Verify Invoice". Then scan the QR code, or type the FBR invoice number by hand.

The app tells you if the invoice is verified or unverified. A verified result means FBR has a record of that invoice.

Now compare the screen with the paper. The seller name, NTN (National Tax Number — the number FBR gives a registered business), date and amount must all match. If the amount on paper is higher than the amount FBR shows, treat the invoice as suspect.

No smartphone or no internet? Use SMS. Type INV, a space, your CNIC number, a space, and the FBR invoice number. Send it to 9966.

FBR replies with the invoice status. This is the method FBR itself lists on its POS invoice verification page. It is best for shop receipts from integrated retailers.

Keep the reply message. If you ever need to report the seller, it is useful proof. 'How to Verify an FBR Invoice by QR Code, Tax Asaan App or SMS 9966' walks through each method again.

If you buy for your business, the strongest check is inside IRIS. When a supplier posts an invoice to FBR, it flows into your Annexure-A. You no longer type your purchases in yourself.

So the test is simple. Before you file your return, open Annexure-A. Every purchase invoice you want to claim should be there, with the same IRN, date and amount.

If an invoice you paid for is missing, the supplier may not have posted it yet. Ask them for the IRN. Remember the 72-hour rule: under STGO 01 of 2026 (a Sales Tax General Order, which is an FBR instruction on how a rule works), a seller can fix or cancel an invoice within 72 hours without approval. After that, changes need the Commissioner's approval.

Check the supplier too, not only the bill. Confirm their NTN and STRN (sales tax registration number) are active and they are on the ATL (Active Taxpayer List). 'How to Check a Supplier Before Claiming Input Tax: FBR Invoice, ATL & Registration Checks (2026)' and 'Annexure-A After Digital Invoicing (2026): Your Purchase Register, Input Tax and the Missing-Invoice Problem' explain both steps.

Pick the method by who you are. All three are free. Only the IRIS check protects an input tax claim.

Shop customer with a smartphone: scan the QR code in Tax Asaan. It takes under a minute.

Shop customer without internet: send the SMS to 9966. You need your CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card) number and the FBR invoice number printed on the receipt.

Registered business buying stock or services: scan the QR code when the bill arrives, then check Annexure-A on IRIS before you file. A QR scan proves the invoice exists. Annexure-A proves it is in your return.

Accountant or tax consultant checking many bills: work from Annexure-A. Match each purchase invoice by IRN, date, value and sales tax. Then scan only the bills that are missing or do not match.

Source: FBR's POS Invoice Verification page lists the Tax Asaan steps and the 9966 SMS format.

Here is a made-up example with real arithmetic. Ali Traders in Faisalabad buys fabric from a registered supplier.

The paper invoice shows value Rs 120,000, sales tax at 18% of Rs 21,600, and a total of Rs 141,600. It carries a QR code, the FBR Digital Invoicing logo and an IRN.

Step 1: the accountant scans the QR code in Tax Asaan. The app says verified and shows the supplier's NTN, the date and Rs 141,600. Everything matches the paper.

Step 2: before filing, she opens Annexure-A on IRIS. The same IRN is there with sales tax of Rs 21,600. Ali Traders can claim Rs 21,600 as input tax.

Now the bad case. Say the paper shows sales tax of Rs 25,200 but FBR shows Rs 21,600. The extra Rs 3,600 is not on record. Ali Traders should not claim the paper figure. It should ask the supplier to correct the invoice, or claim only what FBR shows after advice from its tax adviser.

Do not panic. Most failures are honest mistakes: a typing error, an invoice posted a few hours late, or a seller who has not joined digital invoicing yet.

First, retype the number carefully and try again. Second, ask the seller for the IRN and a fresh copy. Third, if the number still returns nothing, or the amounts do not match, do not claim input tax on it.

If you think the invoice is fake, report it. 'How to Report a Fake FBR Invoice (2026): Where to Complain and What the Buyer Risks' shows where to go and what to send.

If you are the seller, make every invoice pass these checks. Digi Invoice posts each invoice to FBR, then prints the IRN, QR code and logo on it for you, so your buyers can verify it at once. You can create a free account and test in the sandbox (FBR's free practice system, where test invoices do not count as real) first.

Need help? Contact Digi Invoice — WhatsApp 0300 8680363, Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.

IRN — Invoice Reference Number, the unique number FBR gives each invoice it accepts.

Input tax — sales tax you paid on purchases, which you subtract from the tax you owe.

Annexure-A — the purchase list in your monthly sales tax return, now filled from your suppliers' posted invoices.

ATL — Active Taxpayer List, FBR's list of people and businesses who file their returns.

STGO — Sales Tax General Order, an FBR instruction on how an existing rule works in practice.

For more terms, see 'FBR Digital Invoicing Dictionary — 25 Key Terms Explained'.