Your bank account on FBR's file matters more than most people realize — refunds are only ever credited to an account registered in IRIS, and mismatches between your account title and your NTN name are one of the most common reasons refunds sit unprocessed for months.
Step-by-Step
- Log into IRIS at iris.fbr.gov.pk
- Go to "Registration" and find the bank account / linked accounts section
- Click to add a new account and enter the exact account title, IBAN, and bank/branch name as shown on your bank statement or chequebook
- Submit — the account is typically added immediately, though some profiles require a small verification step
Getting the Account Title Right
The account title in IRIS must match the name on the bank account closely — a mismatch (say, a nickname or an old married/maiden name) is enough to hold up a refund even though everything else is correct. If you've recently changed your name legally, update both your CNIC-linked records and your IRIS bank details to match.
Removing an Old or Closed Account
If a previously linked account has been closed, remove it from your profile and add the current one — leaving a dead account on file risks a refund attempt failing silently instead of being redirected to your active account.
Joint Accounts & Business Accounts
Individual refunds should generally go to an account where the taxpayer is at least a joint holder. For businesses, the account should be registered in the business's own name matching the NTN registration, not a personal account of one of the partners or directors.