Linking Pan With Aadhaar: A Step-By-Step Guide

Linking your Permanent Account Number (PAN) with your Aadhaar is now a compulsory procedure for Indian citizens. The government has made it mandatory for all citizens to link their PAN with their Aadhaar number by 30 June 2023. Failing to do so could lead to your PAN becoming inoperative and a late penalty of Rs.1,000. Here's a guide on how to connect your PAN with your Aadhaar and the significance of this linkage.

Deadlines and consequences of non-compliance

The Indian government has made it mandatory for all citizens to link their PAN with their Aadhaar number. The deadline for this was 30 June 2023. If you missed the deadline, your PAN will become inoperative, and you will face the following consequences:

• You will be unable to file your ITR or claim refunds.
• Processing of pending returns and issuance of refunds will be stalled.
• TCS/TDS will be deducted at a higher rate.
• TCS/TDS credit will not appear on Form 26AS, and certificates will be unavailable.
• You will be unable to submit 15G/15H declarations for Nil TDS.
• Your inoperative PAN will prevent you from opening bank accounts, issuing debit/credit cards, purchasing mutual fund units, cash deposits exceeding Rs. 50,000 in a day, cash transactions exceeding Rs. 50,000 for bank drafts or pay orders, time deposits exceeding Rs. 50,000 in a day or aggregating over Rs. 2,50,000 in a financial year, payments exceeding Rs. 50,000 for prepaid payment instruments, sale or purchase of goods/services over Rs. 2,00,000 per transaction, and bank transactions over Rs. 10,000.

However, you can make your PAN operative again within 30 days by linking it with Aadhaar and paying a fee of Rs. 1,000.

How to check if your Aadhaar is linked to your PAN card

To check if your Aadhaar is linked to your PAN card, follow these steps:

Online

• Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal.
• Click on the 'Link Aadhaar Status' under the 'Quick Links' on the homepage.
• Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number and click 'View Link Aadhaar Status'.
• If your PAN and Aadhaar are already linked, you will see the following message: "Your PAN is already linked to the given Aadhaar."

Via SMS

• Write the following SMS: UIDPAN < your 12-digit Aadhaar number> < your 10-digit PAN number.
• Send the SMS to '567678' or '56161'.
• Wait for the response from the government service.
• If your Aadhaar is linked to your PAN, the message will read: "Aadhaar is already associated with PAN (number) in ITD database. Thank you for using our services."

How to link your PAN to your Aadhaar after the deadline

The deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN was 30 June 2023. If you missed this deadline, your PAN will become inoperative from 1 July 2023. However, you can still link your Aadhaar with PAN after the deadline by following these steps:

Two Main Steps:

• Pay the penalty of Rs. 1,000 for the delay in linking PAN-Aadhaar.
• Submit the Aadhaar-PAN link request.

Things to Keep Handy:

Mobile number linked to Aadhaar

Step-by-Step Guide to Linking PAN to Aadhaar After the Deadline:

I. Payment of Penalty:

• Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Portal.
• Click the 'e-Pay Tax' option under the 'Quick Links' heading.
• Enter the 'PAN' number under the 'PAN/TAN' and 'Confirm PAN/TAN' columns, then enter your mobile number and click the 'Continue' button.
• After OTP verification, it will redirect you to the e-Pay Tax page. Click the 'Continue' button again.
• Click the 'Proceed' button under the 'Income Tax' tab.
• Select the 'Assessment Year' as '2025-26', the 'Type of Payment (Minor Head)' as 'Other Receipts (500)', and the 'Subtype of Payment' as 'Fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar'. Then, click the 'Continue' button.
• The applicable amount will be pre-filled against the 'Others' option. Click 'Continue' and make the payment.

You can pay the late penalty on the Income Tax e-filing Portal using net banking, a debit card, over the counter, NEFT/RTGS, or the payment gateway option.

II. Submit Online/Offline Requests for Linking of Aadhaar Number and PAN:

You can do the online linking of the Aadhaar number with your PAN by logging on to the Income Tax e-filing portal. There are two ways to link your PAN to your Aadhaar:

Method 1: Without Logging into Your Account:

• Go to the Income Tax e-filing portal. Under 'Quick Links', click on the 'Link Aadhaar' tab.
• Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number and click the 'Validate' button.
• Enter your name as per your Aadhaar card and your mobile number, then click the 'Link Aadhaar' button.
• Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click the 'Validate' button.
• The request for PAN Aadhaar linking will be sent to the UIDAI for validation.

Method 2: Logging into Your Account:

• Register yourself at the Income Tax e-filing portal if you are not already registered.
• Log in to the e-filing portal of the income tax department by entering your user ID.
• Confirm your secure access message and enter your password. Then, click 'Continue' to proceed.
• After logging in to the website, click on 'Link Aadhaar'. Alternatively, go to 'My Profile' and select 'Link Aadhaar' under the 'Personal Details' option.
• Enter your Aadhaar number and click the 'Validate' button.
• A pop-up message will inform you that your Aadhaar number has been successfully linked to your PAN card.

Once you have sent a request to link PAN with Aadhaar, the UIDAI will process the request. However, the reactivation of the PAN card will take around 7 to 30 days from the date of submission of the request.

Important Note:

If you file your income tax returns without linking PAN-Aadhaar, the income tax department will not process the returns until PAN and Aadhaar are linked.

How to link your PAN to your Aadhaar before the deadline

The Indian government has made it mandatory to link your Permanent Account Number (PAN) with your Aadhaar number by 30 June 2023. If you miss this deadline, your PAN will become inoperative from 1 July 2023. However, you can still link your Aadhaar with PAN after the deadline by paying a late penalty fee of Rs. 1,000. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to link your PAN to your Aadhaar before the deadline:

Step 1: Gather the required information and documents

• You will need your PAN card and your Aadhaar card.
• Ensure that the name, date of birth, and gender on your Aadhaar card match the information on your PAN card. Any discrepancies may lead to a failure in linking the two.

Step 2: Visit the official website

Go to the income tax e-filing portal.

Step 3: Link your PAN and Aadhaar

• On the homepage, click on the ''Link Aadhaar' option under the 'Quick Links' section.
• Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and name as per your Aadhaar card.
• Enter the captcha code and the OTP received on your mobile number.
• Confirm that your Aadhaar card only mentions your birth year.
• Click the 'Link Aadhaar' button to submit your request.

Step 4: Check the status of your linking request

• Visit the income tax e-filing portal again.
• Choose 'Link Aadhaar' under Quick Links, then select the 'Status' button.
• Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.
• Click on 'View Link Aadhaar Status'.
• The portal will display the current status of your Aadhaar-PAN linkage.

• Combating Tax Fraud: Linking PAN with Aadhaar ensures that every PAN is associated with a unique Aadhaar number, preventing individuals from holding multiple PANs, which is against the law.
• Essential for e-Filing of Taxes: For the online filing of income tax returns, having your PAN linked to your Aadhaar is essential.
• Access to Government Benefits: To receive various government subsidies, such as the LPG subsidy, your PAN needs to be linked with your Aadhaar.
• Simplification of KYC Process: This linkage simplifies the Know Your Customer (KYC) process for different financial transactions, including opening bank accounts or applying for loans.

If you face any problems or errors while linking your PAN and Aadhaar, there is a correction facility available. You can also contact the Income Tax Department for further assistance. Additionally, ensure that the details entered are accurate and match the information on your PAN and Aadhaar cards.

Who is exempt from linking their PAN to their Aadhaar

The Indian government has made it mandatory for everyone to connect their PAN (Permanent Account Number) to their Aadhaar, with certain exceptions. These exceptions include:

• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
• Non-Indian citizens
• Individuals aged 80 or above (Super Senior Citizens)
• Residents of Assam, Meghalaya, or Jammu and Kashmir

It is important to note that if you fall under one of these exempt categories, you do not need to link your PAN to your Aadhaar before the deadline. However, for other taxpayers, the linking is mandatory to avoid penalties and issues with financial transactions.

The PAN-Aadhaar linking process can be done online through the Income Tax e-filing portal or manually by visiting a PAN, NSDL, or UTIITSL service center. The government has set a deadline of June 30, 2023, for linking the two, after which a late penalty of Rs. 1,000 will be imposed.

Frequently asked questions