Invoice verification
How to Verify an FBR Digital Invoice Number and QR Code
Learn what an FBR invoice number and QR code represent, how businesses should retain response evidence and what to check when verification fails.
Learn what an FBR invoice number and QR code represent, how businesses should retain response evidence and what to check when verification fails.
Start with the returned response
An invoice number should come from the response returned by the configured FBR digital invoicing process, not from a locally invented sequence. Keep both: your permanent internal reference supports business reconciliation, while the returned identifier links the record to the external response. Never overwrite one with the other.
Generate QR output from trusted data
A QR code is an encoding method, not proof by itself. Generate it only from the fields and identifier required by the current specification and only after the relevant response is confirmed. Protect the QR-generation template from manual edits and make the human-readable invoice number visible beside it.
A verification checklist
Compare the seller identity, invoice date, amount, tax and returned invoice number with the underlying sale. Use the current official verification method provided for the applicable invoice type. If the QR cannot be scanned, enter the published identifier through the official channel where available rather than relying on a third-party screenshot or search result.
Why verification can fail
Common causes include a pending or rejected submission, a QR generated from the wrong string, cropped or low-contrast printing, an incorrect invoice number, temporary service availability or a record issued through a different scheme. Check submission status and the stored response before reprinting or resubmitting.
Protect customers and your audit trail
Do not expose API tokens, internal credentials or unnecessary customer data in QR content. Retain the exact invoice output delivered to the buyer, the response used to create it and any later correction. A reprint should be traceable to the same accepted record rather than creating another invoice.
Official sources and review note
Reviewed against these public sources on 21 October 2026. This article is educational information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm the latest law, notifications, technical documents and professional advice applicable to your business.