Get A Business Pan Card: A Step-By-Step Guide

A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a crucial document for taxpayers in India. It is a 10-digit unique identifier issued by the Income Tax Department to individuals and entities. It is mandatory for filing income tax returns and for correspondence with tax authorities. The PAN card is also used as identity proof and records important details such as name, birth date, and photograph. It is required for individuals, partnerships, companies, and any business entity participating in business with an Indian firm. The process of obtaining a PAN card can be done online or offline, and applicants must provide necessary documents and pay a processing fee.

Online application process

The online application process for a PAN card for a business is simple and can be completed through the NSDL or UTIITSL websites. The first step is to select the appropriate category of the applicant, such as an individual, firm, or company.

For the NSDL website, the next step is to select Form 49A or 49AA from the 'Application Type' dropdown menu and then select 'Company' from the next dropdown menu. The required information, such as the company name, date of incorporation, email address, and contact number, must be filled out. A token number will be generated and sent to the company's email address.

The e-sign and e-KYC facilities are not available for company PAN applications, so the KYC details must be completed manually, and a physical signature is required on the form. The source of income must also be mentioned, selecting from options such as 'Income from Business/Profession' and specifying the type of business. If there are other sources of income, such as capital gains or house property, those must also be mentioned.

The office address, which will also be the communication address in the PAN database, must be provided. The Assessing Officer (AO) Code, designated according to the area jurisdiction of the company's location, must also be provided. This can be done by selecting the 'Indian Citizen' option and then choosing the relevant 'State' and 'City'.

The final step before submission is to upload scanned copies of the required documents, which serve as proof of identity and address. The Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Companies can be used for this purpose.

For the UTIITSL website, the application process is similar. The applicant must select the Type of Application and the Category of the Applicant. Basic information such as the name of the applicant, date of incorporation, email ID, phone number, residential address, office address, and Aadhaar number must be provided. The documents that will be provided as proof of address, date of incorporation, and identity proof must also be mentioned, ensuring that the details match those appearing in the supporting documents.

Once the form is submitted, a payment of Rs. 107 for a PAN card or Rs. 72 for an e-PAN card must be made through credit card, debit card, demand draft, or net banking. A 15-digit acknowledgement number will be generated, which should be noted for future reference. Finally, the filled-out and paid-for application form must be printed, signed, and photographed, and the supporting documents must be attached.

Offline application process

The offline application process for a business PAN card can be completed by following these steps:

Step 1: Download Form 49A

Download the PAN application form, Form 49A, from the NSDL or UTIITSL websites. You can also obtain this form from a local PAN agent.

Step 2: Fill Out the Form

Fill in all the required details in the form, such as firm name, date of establishment, income details, number of company registrations, communication address, and assessing officer (AO) code. The AO code can be found on the NSDL website.

Step 3: Attach Supporting Documents

Along with the form, you will need to attach supporting documents, including proof of identity and address, and a copy of the certificate of incorporation. If your business is a foreign company, you will also need a copy of the registration certificate issued by Indian officials and a copy of the certificate of registration from your native country, duly attested.

Step 4: Submit the Form and Documents

Submit the completed form and supporting documents to the nearest NSDL processing centre or PAN agent. The addresses of the NSDL processing centres can be found on the government's TIN website.

Step 5: Pay the Fee

Pay the application fee, which is Rs. 110 for companies. The fee can be paid through credit card, debit card, demand draft, or net banking.

Step 6: Receive Acknowledgement

After submitting the form and documents, you will receive an acknowledgement letter for all the submitted documents. This letter will include an acknowledgement number that will allow you to track the status of your PAN application.

Step 7: Send Signed Acknowledgement Form

Within 15 days of completing the application, send the signed acknowledgement form to the NSDL office in Pune.

Processing Time:

The processing time for a business PAN card is approximately 15 days. Once the documents are verified, the PAN card will be sent to the company's registered address.

Supporting documents required

The supporting documents required for a PAN application depend on the type of business. Here is a list of documents required for each type of business entity:

Documents Required for a Proprietorship Firm

Proof of Date of Birth

Documents Required for a Company

Copy of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Registrar of Companies (ROC)

Documents Required for a Partnership Firm

• Copy of Partnership Deed
• Certificate of Registration issued by Registrar of Firms

Documents Required for a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

• Copy of Partnership Deed
• Certificate of Registration issued by Registrar of Companies

Documents Required for a Foreign Company

• Copy of the registration certificate issued by Indian officials to set up an office in India
• Copy of the certificate of registration from the applicant’s native country, duly attested by Apostille, the Indian Embassy, the High Commission, or even by authorised officials of overseas branches of scheduled banks registered in India
• A bank draft to pay the issuance fee to the tax department to get a corporate PAN card. Ensure that the payment is made in Indian currency. You can also draw a foreign currency draft in favour of NSDL.

Documents Accepted as Proof of Identity and Address for Foreign Citizens

• Copy of passport, or Voter's ID card
• Copy of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card issued by Government of India
• Copy of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card issued by Government of India
• Copy of other national or citizenship Identification Number or Taxpayer Identification Number duly attested by "Apostille" (in respect of countries which are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961) or by the Indian Embassy or High Commission or Consulate in the country where the applicant is located or authorized officials of overseas branches of Scheduled Banks registered in India (in prescribed format)
• Proof of identity documents mentioned above bearing the address of the applicant
• Copy of bank account statement in the country of residence
• Copy of non-resident external (NRE) bank account statement in India
• Copy of certificate of residence in India or residential permit issued by the state police authorities
• Copy of registration certificate issued by the Foreigner's Registration Office showing Indian address
• Copy of visa granted and copy of appointment letter or contract from an Indian company and certificate (in original) of Indian address issued by the employer

Documents Accepted as Proof of Identity and Address for Entities Other than Individuals and HUF (including those having no office of their own in India)

• Copy of certificate of registration issued in the country where the applicant is located, duly attested by "Apostille" (in respect of the countries which are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961) or by the Indian Embassy or High Commission or Consulate in the country where the applicant is located or authorized officials of overseas branches of Scheduled Banks registered in India (in prescribed format)
• Copy of registration certificate issued in India or of approval granted to set up an office in India by Indian Authorities

Application fee

The application fee for a PAN card is Rs. 107 if the communication address is within India, and Rs. 1,017 if the communication address is outside India. These charges are applicable when you apply for a PAN card by visiting a PAN centre or when you apply online but submit the PAN documents physically. The payment can be made by way of demand draft, credit card/debit card, or net banking. In the case of a company, only a director can make the credit/debit card or net banking payment.

The fee for applicants residing in India is INR 110, which includes a processing fee of INR 93 plus a GST of 18%. For citizens outside the country, the cost is INR 864, excluding GST.

The charges for a PAN card (hard copy and e-copy) are Rs. 107, while that for an e-PAN card is Rs. 72.

The fee for a duplicate/reprint PAN card for applicants residing in India is Rs. 101 (Rs. 86 Application Processing fee + 18% GST). For applicants residing abroad, the fee is Rs. 1,011 (Rs. 86 Application Processing fee + Dispatch Charges Rs. 857) + 18% GST.

The fee for a business PAN card is Rs. 100.

Tracking the application status

Once you have submitted your application for a PAN card, you can track its status using a variety of methods. Here are the steps you can follow:

Tracking PAN Card Status Online

You can check the status of your PAN card application online through the NSDL or UTIITSL portals. Here are the detailed steps for each:

NSDL Portal:

• Visit the official NSDL website: https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserRegisterContact.html.
• Select your application type, such as "New PAN for Indian Citizens" or the appropriate option for foreign citizens or existing PAN changes.
• Specify your category (individual, association, etc.) from the available options.
• After submitting the initial form, continue by clicking "Continue with the PAN Application Form."
• Complete the e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) process. You may need your Aadhaar details for this step.
• Choose your preferred PAN format: physical or digital (e-PAN). Provide the last four digits of your Aadhaar number if you opt for the digital option.
• Enter your personal and contact details, including your name, date of birth, email address, and mobile number.
• Locate and enter the Assessing Officer (AO) details, such as the area code and AO type.
• Submit the required documents and sign the declaration electronically.
• Review and submit your application. Enter the first eight digits of your PAN (if applicable) for review.
• Verify your application using the Aadhaar OTP (One-Time Password) sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
• Make the payment using your preferred method (demand draft, net banking, debit/credit card), and you will receive a payment receipt.
• Complete the Aadhaar Authentication by confirming the declaration and clicking "Authenticate."
• Proceed with e-signing by entering your 12-digit Aadhaar number and verifying it with the OTP sent to your mobile number.
• Finally, download the acknowledgement slip, which will be in PDF format. The password to access this document will be your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format.

Once you have your acknowledgement slip with the 15-digit acknowledgement number, follow these steps to track your PAN card status:

• Visit the official NSDL website: https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/pantan/StatusTrack.html.
• Click on the "Track Your PAN/ TAN Application Status" option.
• Choose the application type as "PAN-New/Change Request."
• Enter your 15-digit acknowledgement number and the captcha code.
• Verify the details, and your PAN card status will be displayed on the screen.

UTIITSL Portal:

• Visit the official UTIITSL website: https://www.utiitsl.com/.
• Click on the "Track Your PAN/ TAN Application Status" option.
• Select the application type as "PAN."
• Enter your 15-digit application number and your details.
• Your PAN card application status will be displayed.

Tracking PAN Card Status by SMS

You can also track your PAN card status by sending an SMS. Here are the steps:

• Type "NSDLPAN" followed by your 15-digit acknowledgement number.
• Send the SMS to '57575'.
• You will receive an SMS update on your PAN card status promptly.

Tracking PAN Card Status by Phone Call

If you prefer, you can also check the status of your PAN card application by calling the TIN customer care helpline. Here are the steps:

• Call the TIN customer care number: 020-27218080.
• Provide your 15-digit acknowledgement number to the customer care executive.
• They will conduct a quick identity check and inform you of your PAN card status.

Note: Remember that the helpline number may change from time to time, so it is recommended to check the official website for the latest contact information.

Frequently asked questions