How to Verify an FBR POS Invoice With the Tax Asaan App or SMS 9966
Check that your shop receipt is a real FBR POS invoice. Use the Tax Asaan app or send INV, your CNIC and the invoice number to 9966. See the steps and limits.
Short answer: To verify an FBR POS invoice, open the Tax Asaan app, go to the FBR POS menu, tap Verify Invoice and enter the invoice number or scan the QR code on your receipt. Or send an SMS to 9966 in the form INV, a space, your CNIC number, a space, then the FBR invoice number.
You buy a pair of shoes at a large retail chain and the receipt prints a long invoice number and a small square code. Most people fold it into a pocket. That number is the key to a quick check.
We opened the FBR POS invoice verification page on 12 October 2026. We did not send a test message or log in to the app, because both need a real CNIC and a real purchase. The steps below follow the Federal Board of Revenue's own wording.
FBR gives two ways to verify a POS invoice
FBR says customers of Tier-1 integrated retailers can verify their electronic invoice through the Tax Asaan app or by sending the invoice number as an SMS to 9966. The app then reports whether the invoice is verified or unverified.
A Tier-1 retailer is a large retail business that FBR has linked to its point of sale (POS) system. The invoice number printed on your receipt is the number you use to check the sale against FBR's system.
| Method | What you do | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Asaan app | Open FBR POS, tap Verify Invoice, enter the number or scan the QR code | The app and the receipt |
| SMS to 9966 | Type INV, your CNIC number and the FBR invoice number, then send | Any phone that can send SMS, your CNIC, the receipt |
The app takes four taps and a number
Open the Tax Asaan app, tap the FBR POS menu, choose Verify Invoice, then type the FBR invoice number or scan the QR code printed on the receipt. The app then shows the status of the invoice.
If you have not installed the app yet, the steps for using the FBR Tax Asaan app show where to find it and how to log in. You can then use the same app for your return.
- Open the Tax Asaan app and sign in.
- Tap the FBR POS menu.
- Tap the Verify Invoice icon.
- Type the FBR invoice number, or scan the QR code on the receipt.
- Read the status the app shows: verified or unverified.
Scanning the QR code saves typing and avoids a wrong digit. If the code is smudged, type the number by hand and read it twice.
The SMS has a fixed format
Send one message to 9966 that reads INV, a space, your CNIC number, a space and the FBR invoice number. FBR's page gives that order and no other. Do not add dashes, words or extra spaces, and do not send it to any other number.
Here is how a message would look, with made-up digits so you can see the shape: INV 1234512345671 FBR-INVOICE-NUMBER. Replace the second part with your own 13 digit CNIC number and the last part with the invoice number from your receipt.
Use only the short code FBR lists. A text that asks you to reply to a different number, or that asks for an OTP or a bank card number, is not part of this process. Our guide on checking whether an FBR notice or email is real explains how to tell an official message from a fake one.
Verified and unverified are the only two answers FBR names
FBR's page says the application notifies the customer that the invoice is either verified or unverified. It does not explain here what causes an unverified result, so treat that answer as a reason to ask the shop, not as proof of wrongdoing.
A wrong digit is the first thing to rule out. Check the number against the receipt and try again. A very recent purchase is the second. We have no FBR statement on how fast an invoice reaches the system, so wait a short while and retry.
If the result is still unverified, ask the cashier for a reprint and show the receipt to the manager. Keep the paper receipt. You can also call the FBR helpline, which FBR's POS announcement lists as 051-111-772-772.
Check that the shop is integrated before you worry
The verification check is built for integrated retailers. FBR's own list shows 13,731 integrations with 37,770 branches up to 31 August 2026, split into Tier-1 retailers, textile and leather retailers and restaurants. A small shop outside those groups may not issue an FBR invoice.
| Group on FBR's list | Integrations | Branches |
|---|---|---|
| Tier-1 retailers | 12,016 | 25,208 |
| Textile and leather retailers | 563 | 10,770 |
| Restaurants | 1,152 | 1,792 |
| Total | 13,731 | 37,770 |
The invoice verification page names Tier-1 retailers. It does not say that the same method covers every textile shop or restaurant on the list. If you buy from one of those, try the check and ask the outlet if it fails.
Restaurants and hotels also face a provincial system. In Sindh, our guide on verifying a restaurant bill with SRB and claiming a prize covers it. In Punjab, the story of Punjab's ban on handwritten restaurant bills explains the e-invoicing rule. These run on the provincial authority, not on FBR's 9966 code.
Why a quick check is worth it
A valid invoice shows that the sale was recorded where the tax authority can see it. For you it is also a record for warranty and returns. For the economy it is how the sale gets counted, which is the point of the whole POS scheme.
The check needs only the receipt and your phone. The paper receipt is the only proof you hold, so keep it until the return window passes.
Common questions
What number do I send to verify an FBR invoice by SMS?
Send it to 9966. The message reads INV, a space, your CNIC number, a space and the FBR invoice number.
Can I verify an invoice without the app?
Yes. The SMS route works without the app. You only need a phone that can send a text message and your receipt.
What does the QR code on my receipt do?
The Tax Asaan app can scan it to enter the FBR invoice number for you. It saves you from typing the number by hand.
Is the check free?
FBR's page does not state a charge for the app or for the SMS. Your mobile operator's SMS rate may apply, so check your package.
What if my invoice shows unverified?
Recheck the number first, then ask the shop to reprint the invoice. FBR's page does not explain the cause of an unverified result.
Does this work for every shop?
No. It is meant for integrated retailers. FBR's page names Tier-1 retailers, so a small shop that is not integrated may not issue an FBR POS invoice.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the FBR POS invoice verification page, the POS integrated retailers table and the POS legal provisions page on 12 October 2026, at fbr.gov.pk. We did not test the SMS or the app. The helpline number comes from an FBR announcement dated 2021 and may have changed.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
