How to Verify an FBR Digital Invoice (IRN & QR Code Check)

Under Pakistan's digital invoicing rules, a genuine sales tax invoice is one that FBR has recorded and stamped with an Invoice Reference Number (IRN) and a QR code. If you have received an invoice and want to confirm it is real, or you are a buyer who needs a valid invoice to claim input tax, here is how to check it.

What a valid FBR digital invoice must show

• The seller's name, NTN and STRN.
• The buyer's details (STRN for registered buyers, or NIC/NTN where required).
• A unique Invoice Reference Number (IRN) issued by FBR through PRAL.
• A scannable QR code that links to the recorded invoice.
• Itemised values with the correct tax rate and amount per line.

How to verify the IRN

The IRN is the proof that PRAL accepted and recorded the invoice. A digital invoice without an IRN has not been transmitted to FBR and is not valid for input tax. You can confirm an IRN through FBR's official online invoice-verification service, which returns the recorded details for that reference.

How to scan the QR code

Every compliant invoice carries a QR code that encodes the IRN. Scan it with FBR's Tax Asaan mobile app, or use the verification option on FBR's portal, and the system shows the invoice details FBR holds on record. If the scanned details match the printed invoice, it is genuine; if nothing is found, treat the invoice as unverified. Always rely on FBR's official channels rather than third-party scanners.

Why verification matters

For buyers, only an invoice with a valid IRN lets you claim input tax adjustment. For sellers, issuing verifiable invoices is now a legal requirement, not a courtesy. A missing or invalid IRN means the supply was not reported, which exposes both parties to compliance risk.

What to do if an invoice has no IRN or QR code

Ask the seller to issue a compliant digital invoice. If your supplier cannot, they may not be integrated with FBR yet, and you may be unable to claim the input tax on that purchase. Increasingly, registered buyers simply refuse invoices that lack a verified IRN.

If you are the seller, Taxonomy makes sure every invoice you issue is transmitted to PRAL and returned with a valid IRN and QR code automatically, so your customers can always verify it.