Guide
What FBR's answer on an invoice means
FBR answers each invoice with an overall status and a status for every line. An invoice counts as accepted only when FBR accepted it, every line is valid and FBR issued an FBR invoice number. A successful connection or a 00 code on its own does not mean accepted.
Validate first, then submit
- Validate: FBR checks the invoice and answers valid or invalid, naming any line with a problem. Nothing is recorded as a tax invoice yet, and no FBR invoice number is issued.
- Submit: FBR receives the invoice. It either accepts it and issues an FBR invoice number, or rejects it with error codes.
What is in the answer
- An overall code and status for the whole invoice, such as Valid or Invalid.
- An error code and message when FBR rejects the whole invoice.
- A status for every line, with its own code and message when that line has a problem.
- The FBR invoice number and date, only when FBR accepts a submitted invoice.
FBR's published examples include an answer with the code 00 and an invalid status, so no single field settles the outcome. Bilkul reads all of them together.
What Bilkul shows
- Valid, ready to submit: FBR validated the invoice. Nothing is posted until you submit it.
- Accepted by FBR: FBR accepted it and issued an FBR invoice number. The invoice can no longer be edited, cancelled or deleted in Bilkul.
- Rejected by FBR: FBR issued no invoice number. You see FBR's codes and messages for the invoice and its lines.
- Outcome unknown, check FBR: the link to FBR broke before FBR answered. Bilkul never resends it automatically.
FBR's acceptance does not confirm that the tax treatment you chose is legally right. Your business stays responsible for it.
Questions about FBR's answer
Why can an invoice with code 00 still be invalid?
FBR's answer has several parts: an overall code, an overall status and a status for every line. FBR's own published examples pair the code 00 with an invalid status and an invalid line. That is why Bilkul checks every part and shows an invoice as accepted only with FBR's invoice number.
What does "outcome unknown" mean?
The connection between Bilkul and FBR broke after the invoice was sent and before FBR answered, so nobody knows yet whether FBR received it. Bilkul never resends it automatically. Someone checks FBR's Invoice Dashboard in IRIS and records what they found: if FBR didn't receive it, an owner, admin or accountant can authorize sending it again; if it did, they copy its FBR invoice number from IRIS into Bilkul.
Can I fix a rejected invoice and send it again?
A finalized invoice can't be edited. An owner, admin or accountant can usually cancel the rejected one, with a reason, and you make a new invoice with the fix. Bilkul says why when it can't cancel, for example while a payment is applied.
See FBR's answers in Bilkul
Book a demo and we'll show you a sandbox invoice from validation to acceptance.