If you’ve tried to log into IRIS but have been greeted with a blank white screen or a prompt that you’ve entered “invalid credentials” (despite being certain that you’ve entered correct information), you’re not alone – it’s one of the most common concerns we receive about IRIS from our clients. Please see below for how the IRIS login process works, as well as some common pitfalls to be aware of.
Where to Log In
Go directly to iris.fbr.gov.pk (not “e-fbr.gov.pk” or other bookmarks you may have saved years ago). FBR retired the previous e-FBR portal some time ago and IRIS 2.0 is now the only portal that is relevant. There is a login box on the right side of the homepage with fields for CNIC/NTN and Password and a small note above the fields stating “Save your work periodically — User may log out, if idle”. This is a crucial note as IRIS does tend to have shorter session timelines than most government websites and can log users out before filing is complete simply due to an idle session.
Free tool: Looking for a company’s NTN? Search by name in our free NTN Directory. Check a CNIC or NTN right now with our free ATL Verification tool.
Logging In, Step by Step
- In the CNIC/NTN field, enter your 13-digit CNIC (without dashes) (this tends to trip up many people, as the format “12345-1234567-1” won’t work, but “1234512345671” will);
- In the Password field, enter the password that you set for the account, or the last password you changed it to;
- Click LOGIN.
- You should now see the IRIS Dashboard – at the top of the screen you’ll see a menu bar providing links to Registration, Declaration, Assets Declaration, Rectification, Appeals, Refund, Withholding/Advance Tax, Payments, and a few others based on your taxpayer category.
Forgot Your Password?
Click “Forgot Password / Account Recovery” directly below the password field. You will need the CNIC/NTN and need to have a mobile number or email address on file with FBR that you have access to (the recovery code will be sent there, not to whichever number you may be currently using if you’ve changed SIMs in the meantime). This is actually the number one reason why people are unable to successfully log into the portal – if you’ve changed your mobile number years ago and have forgotten to update it with your FBR account, but now don’t have access to the old number (because it’s deactivated, etc.), there’s nothing that can be done to recover the account (unless you have a consultant’s assistance to update it via profile correction in FBR).
A Few Things We See Constantly
- “Invalid credentials” being prompted for a password you’re certain is correct? Almost always an issue with either the CNIC (extra dashes) or accidental space being added;
- One-time password (OTP) not being delivered? Usually because the number registered with FBR is dead, roaming, or associated with a SIM that has since been deactivated by the mobile operator (if it’s been ages since you registered that number with FBR, this is extremely likely);
- The portal being unbearably slow, or the page spinning indefinitely? This is genuinely an issue on the FBR’s end, more commonly seen in the days running up to a filing deadline (when the servers are inundated with requests).
- You’ve never actually set a password yourself? If a consultant registered you years ago and you’ve never had the need to log into the portal, the “Forgot Password” feature should still work (essentially, an account exists, even if you’ve never used it).
Registering for the First Time
The above doesn’t apply if you don’t have an NTN at all yet (in which case there is no account to recover). We handle NTN registration and IRIS profile set up for our clients, so this shouldn’t be an issue you’ll encounter. See our NTN Registration Services in Pakistan page for more information.
What Comes Next
Once you’re logged in, most people are either looking to file a return (see our return-filing guide) or to view their registration certificate – for the latter, see how to verify and download your NTN/FBR certificate, which will make use of IRIS’s separate, public “Verifications” tool, which does not actually require a login.
If you’ve found yourself stuck on any of the steps listed above and would rather have someone else deal with it, feel free to reach out to us – recovering locked accounts and dealing with the quirks of the IRIS portal is something we do on a weekly basis.
To update your business details in the IRIS portal, see our FBR business profile modification service.
