Correction and source review — 2 October 2026: This page now uses SECP’s dated Form-19 guidance. We removed unsupported claims about a March registry launch, automatic NADRA verification, unrestricted real-time agency access and statements attributed to the Chairman without a source.
What SECP’s official notice says
SECP’s 21 April 2026 notice directed companies to submit beneficial-ownership information through Form-19 on eZfile. It links the filing to section 123A of the Companies Act, 2017 and the annual return. A beneficial owner can be a natural person who ultimately controls a company through direct or indirect arrangements, even without appearing as a director or immediate shareholder.
The notice also describes an internal beneficial-ownership register, updates when information changes, and possible penalties for non-submission. Its April 30, 2026 deadline is historical; this page does not announce a new deadline or extension.
A practical preparation checklist
Before opening the filing, a company can organize its evidence into three folders. This is TaxToday’s suggested workflow, not an additional SECP filing requirement.
- Ownership chain: current share register, relevant corporate-owner records and an explanation of how the chain reaches natural persons.
- Control evidence: documents explaining voting rights or other control arrangements, with unclear cases flagged for professional review.
- Filing history: the prior declaration, changes since that declaration, internal register updates and submission acknowledgements.
For example, where the direct shareholder is another company, stopping the worksheet at that company leaves the natural-person question unanswered. Trace the chain and record the evidence supporting each step. Do not infer the answer merely from the name of the managing director.
Check consistency before submission
Compare names, identifiers and percentages across the source documents and the draft form. Identify who checked the ownership explanation and when. If documents disagree, resolve the discrepancy before submitting an assertion. Keep sensitive identity information in the company’s controlled records and the official filing system, rather than in public comments or an informal email attachment.
Use the current official form
SECP’s statutory forms page lists Form-19 and related ownership forms. Check the current form and instructions directly before filing. An old downloaded copy or this checklist should not replace the applicable law and current portal requirements.
Beneficial-ownership reporting and an FBR income-tax return serve different purposes. Maintaining one set of records does not prove that the other filing has been completed. See our tax filing guides for separate tax-return preparation.
Reviewed by Faisal Hamid Khosa on 2 October 2026. This is general company-compliance information, not an assessment of a particular company’s legal obligations.