
The Permanent Account Number (PAN) card is a crucial document for financial transactions in India. It is important to periodically check the active status of your PAN card, especially if you have not used it for a long time. This is because an active and accurate financial profile positively impacts your CIBIL Score. If your PAN is not linked with your Aadhaar card, it will be inoperative and cannot be used for various purposes, including ITR filing. To check if your PAN is operative, you can use the official website of the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), the authorised agency for PAN, or the Income Tax Department's website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons for PAN inoperability | Non-linking with Aadhaar, duplication, non-compliance with tax regulations, discrepancies in the provided information, non-filing of Income Tax Returns |
| How to check PAN status | Visit the Income Tax Department's website and use the "Know Your PAN" service, log in to the Income Tax portal, check the status of PAN linking with various accounts such as bank accounts, Aadhaar, etc., by logging into the respective portals or by contacting the concerned institution |
| Steps to check PAN status | 1. Go to the e-Filing portal homepage. 2. Click on "Verify Your PAN" on the e-Filing homepage. 3. On the "Verify Your PAN" page, enter your PAN, full name, date of birth, and mobile number, and click "Continue". 4. On the Verification page, enter the 6-digit OTP received on the mobile number and click "Validate". |
| Steps to link PAN with Aadhaar | 1. Go to the Income Tax e-filing website. 2. Click the "e-Pay Tax" option under the "Quick Links" heading on the homepage. 3. Enter the "PAN" number, mobile number, and click the "Continue" button. 4. Enter the OTP and click the "Continue" button. 5. Click the "Proceed" button under the "Income Tax" tab. 6. Select the assessment year, type of payment, and click "Continue" to pay the penalty. 7. After paying the penalty, go to the homepage and click the "Link Aadhaar" option under the "Quick Links" heading. |
| Fee to link PAN with Aadhaar | Rs. 1,000 |
| Time to reactivate PAN | 30 days |
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What You'll Learn

Using Form 26AS
Form 26AS is a consolidated record of all tax-related information associated with your Permanent Account Number (PAN). It contains critical information about tax deducted/collected and deposited with the government tax authorities by authorised collectors/deductors. It is useful for verifying the contents of the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) certificate and ensuring that the TDS deducted from your income is deposited with the income tax department.
Form 26AS can be viewed and downloaded from the TRACES website. Here are the steps to follow:
- Log in to the Income Tax portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/ or https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/iec/foservices/#/login.
- Click on 'Income Tax Returns' under the 'e-File' tab.
- From the list, click on 'View Form 26 AS'. Confirm the Disclaimer and mark the tick box, then click 'Proceed'.
- Click on 'View Tax Credit (Form 26AS/Annual Tax Statement)'.
- Under 'Current Status of PAN', you can see whether your PAN is 'Active and Operative'.
If your PAN is inactive, it can be made active again in 30 days by notifying the appropriate authority and paying a charge of Rs. 1,000 on the Aadhaar intimation.
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Visiting the Income Tax Department website
To check if your PAN card is operative or not, you can visit the Income Tax Department website. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Visit the official website
Firstly, open your web browser and go to the official website of the Income Tax Department. The website address is https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/. This is the e-filing portal where you can verify your PAN card status.
Step 2: Navigate to the relevant page
Once you are on the homepage, you will need to navigate to the correct page to verify your PAN. Different sources suggest either clicking on ''Verify Your PAN' or ''Verify PAN Status' on the homepage. These options should be clearly visible, possibly under a ''Quick Links' heading.
Step 3: Enter your details
On the 'Verify Your PAN' or 'Verify PAN Status' page, you will need to enter some personal information. This includes your PAN number, full name, date of birth, and mobile number. After entering these details, click the ''Continue' button.
Step 4: Enter the OTP
You will then need to enter a one-time password (OTP) that will be sent to the mobile number you provided in the previous step. Enter this OTP and click the ''Validate' button.
Step 5: Check your PAN status
After validating the OTP, the website will display the status of your PAN card. It will indicate whether your PAN is active and operative or provide information about any issues causing it to be inactive.
It is important to keep your PAN card active and to periodically check its status, especially if you have not used it for a long time. An active PAN card is necessary for various financial and government-related purposes in India, and it can impact your CIBIL score.
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PAN-Aadhaar linking
As per Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the Government of India has made it mandatory for most citizens to link their Aadhaar with their Permanent Account Number (PAN). If your PAN is not linked to your Aadhaar, it will be inoperative and you will not be able to use it for essential financial tasks like filing your Income Tax Return (ITR), opening a bank account, or making an investment.
To check if your PAN is linked to your Aadhaar, you can use one of the following methods:
- SMS Method: This method can be used if you do not have access to the internet. Open your messaging app and type the following message: "
<14-DIGIT AADHAAR NUMBER" (without quotes). Send the SMS to 567678 or 56161. After some time, you will receive a response from the government service confirming if your cards have been linked or not. - Income Tax e-Filing Portal: This method requires internet access and a login to your account. Go to the official Income Tax e-filing portal and click on 'Login' at the top-right corner of the page. Enter your User ID (PAN) and password to log in. Once logged in, go to the 'Profile Settings' section on the dashboard. From the dropdown menu, select 'Link Aadhaar'. If your PAN and Aadhaar are linked, a confirmation message will appear.
- E-Filing Portal: This method does not require logging in to your account. Visit the e-Filing Portal homepage and click on 'Verify Your PAN' or 'Link Aadhaar' under the 'Quick Links' section. Enter your PAN, full name, date of birth, and mobile number, and click 'Continue'. On the Verification page, enter the 6-digit OTP received on your mobile number and click 'Validate'. If your PAN and Aadhaar are linked, a confirmation message will be displayed.
If your PAN is inoperative due to non-linking with Aadhaar, you can make it operative again by applying to link your PAN and Aadhaar. Here are the steps to do so:
- Go to the Income Tax e-filing website.
- Click the 'e-Pay Tax' option under the 'Quick Links' heading on the homepage.
- Enter your PAN number, mobile number, and click 'Continue'.
- Enter the OTP and click 'Continue'.
- Click 'Proceed' under the 'Income Tax' tab.
- Select the assessment year and type of payment, and click 'Continue' to pay the penalty.
- After paying the penalty, go to the homepage and click 'Link Aadhaar' under the 'Quick Links' heading.
- Enter your PAN and Aadhaar Number, and click 'Continue'.
- Enter the mandatory details and click 'Link Aadhaar'.
- Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your mobile number and click 'Validate'.
Please note that there is no fee for linking PAN and Aadhaar for new applicants. However, existing PAN holders who were allotted PAN on or before 01-07-2017 must pay a penalty of Rs.1,000 for linking the two documents. Additionally, ensure that the details on your PAN and Aadhaar card match, as mismatches in name, phone number, or date of birth may cause issues with linking the two.
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Checking for deactivation reasons
The Income Tax Department deactivates Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) for several reasons. Here are some of the common reasons for PAN deactivation:
Non-Linking with Aadhaar
The primary reason for PAN deactivation is the non-linking of PAN with Aadhaar. As per the latest notification by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), it is mandatory to link PAN with Aadhaar by 31 December 2025. Failure to do so will render the PAN inoperative until the linking is completed and validated.
Duplicate or Multiple PAN Cards
Holding more than one PAN card is prohibited under Section 139A of the Income Tax Act. The Income Tax Department detects and deactivates duplicate or multiple PAN cards issued to a single individual.
Fake PAN Cards
The Income Tax Department regularly deactivates PAN cards that are found to be issued on the basis of fake or forged documents, including invalid personal details or those created for non-existent persons with fake identities.
Discrepancies between PAN and Aadhaar Details
If there are unresolved discrepancies between PAN and Aadhaar details, such as mismatched names, dates of birth, or gender, the PAN may be flagged during Aadhaar validation and marked as inoperative.
PAN Card Deactivation for Deceased Individuals
The Income Tax Department deactivates the PAN cards of deceased individuals upon receiving a formal application for deactivation along with a copy of the death certificate from the heirs or nominees of the deceased.
If you suspect your PAN has been deactivated, you can check its status online using the Income Tax e-filing portal or by sending an SMS with your 15-digit token or acknowledgment number to 57575 NSDL PAN. If your PAN is indeed inactive, you can take steps to reactivate it, such as linking it with your Aadhaar or contacting the relevant authorities.
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Reactivating an inoperative PAN
If your PAN card is not linked with your Aadhaar card, it will be inoperative and cannot be used for various financial transactions, including ITR filing. To reactivate your PAN card, follow the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Visit the e-Filing portal homepage
Go to the Income Tax e-filing website and click on "'Verify Your PAN'" on the homepage. You can also access the portal by visiting the Income Tax Department's official website at incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/.
Step 2: Enter your details
On the "Verify Your PAN" page, enter your PAN, full name, date of birth, and mobile number. Click on "Continue" to proceed.
Step 3: Enter the OTP
Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your registered mobile number and click on "Validate" to verify your PAN's validity.
Step 4: Pay the penalty
To link your PAN with your Aadhaar, you must pay a penalty of Rs. 1,000 through the e-filing portal. This can be done by selecting the ''e-Pay Tax' option under the 'Quick Links' heading on the homepage. Follow the steps to make the payment.
Step 5: Link your Aadhaar
After paying the penalty, go to the homepage and click on "Link Aadhaar" under the 'Quick Links' heading. Enter your Aadhaar details and complete the linking process.
It is important to note that it may take up to 30 days for your PAN to become operative again after applying for PAN-Aadhaar linking. Additionally, if you are an NRI, you may need to update your residential status in the PAN database or submit an application to the jurisdictional Assessing Officer (AO) to update your residency status from 'Resident' to 'Non-Resident'.
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Frequently asked questions
You can check the status of your PAN card by visiting the Income Tax Department's website and using the "Know Your PAN" service.
If your PAN card is not linked with your Aadhaar card, it will be inoperative and cannot be used for various purposes, including ITR filing.
Go to the e-Filing portal homepage and click on 'Verify Your PAN'. Enter your PAN, full name, date of birth, and mobile number. Then, enter the 6-digit OTP received on the provided mobile number. The screen will display whether your PAN card and Aadhaar are linked.
You can make your PAN operative again by applying to link your PAN and Aadhaar after paying a penalty fee of Rs.1,000.
If your PAN card is inoperative, you cannot perform various financial transactions, such as opening bank accounts, cash deposits, securities, property sales, etc.











































