
The Indian Income Tax Department issues a Permanent Account Number (PAN) to individuals in the form of a laminated card. This 10-digit alphanumeric number is not randomly generated and contains vital information about the PAN cardholder. The PAN card is necessary for cash transactions over Rs. 50,000 and for filing income tax returns. This article will break down how to read and understand your PAN number.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of digits | 10 |
| Format | Alphanumeric (first 5 characters are alphabets, followed by 4 numeric digits, and ending with an alphabet) |
| Fourth letter | Status of the cardholder (e.g. 'P' for an individual, 'H' for HUF, 'F' for firms, 'C' for companies) |
| Fifth letter | First letter of the surname in the case of individuals or the first letter of the name in other cases |
| Other letters and numbers | Allotted based on the Income Tax Department's series database |
| Date of issue | Located on the bottom right of the card |
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What You'll Learn

PAN card status check online
To check the status of your PAN card application online, you can visit the official website of the Income Tax Department or contact their helpline. You will need to have your application number or acknowledgement number ready. The acknowledgement number for a PAN card is a unique 15-digit number provided upon the successful submission of a PAN card application.
If you applied for an instant e-PAN through the income tax website, you can check the status of your application using your Aadhaar Number. Visit the Income Tax e-filing website and click on 'Instant PAN' or access it directly through the provided link. Click the 'Continue' button under the 'Check Status/Download PAN' option, input your 12-digit Aadhaar number, and proceed by clicking 'Continue'. Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click 'Continue' again. Your PAN card status will then be displayed on the screen.
Alternatively, if you applied for a PAN card through TIN-NSDL (now Protean), you can monitor its status using your mobile number or telephone. Call TIN's call center at 020-27218080 and provide your 15-digit acknowledgment number to receive updates on your application's progress.
You can also check your PAN card application status on the UTIITSL PAN Portal as well as the TIN-NSDL PAN Portal. If you applied for a PAN card online and paid the fees using a credit card, debit card, or internet banking, you can check the payment status by visiting the official Protean website (previously known as NSDL). Click on the 'PAN' option under the 'Services' tab, select the 'Know the status of your credit card/debit card/net banking transaction for online application' option, and enter your transaction number or the 15-digit acknowledgement number associated with your application.
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PAN card status check by SMS
To check your PAN card status via SMS, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, you will need to send an SMS to 57575 in the following format: "NSDLPAN <15-digit acknowledgement number>" (without the quotes). This number is printed on the PAN card application acknowledgement receipt. Once you have sent the SMS, you should receive a response with your PAN card application status. This is a quick and easy way to check the status of your PAN card application.
Alternatively, you can check your PAN card status online by visiting the National Government Services Portal. Here, you will need to select the application type, enter your acknowledgement number, name, and date of birth. This will allow you to access your PAN card application status online.
Additionally, you can verify your PAN card details by logging into the e-Filing portal of the Income Tax Department. Once logged in, click on "Verify Your PAN" and enter your PAN, full name, date of birth, and mobile number. An OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number, which you will need to enter on the verification page. After successful verification, your PAN status will be displayed, confirming the validity of your PAN card.
It is important to ensure that the details on your PAN card, such as your name, date of birth, and other personal information, are correct. Any discrepancies in the information may lead to issues in the future, so it is advisable to verify your PAN card details and ensure their accuracy.
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PAN card status check via call
You can check your PAN card status by calling the TIN customer care helpline at 020-27218080. Provide your 15-digit acknowledgment number to the customer care executive, who will then conduct an identity check and inform you of your PAN status.
Alternatively, you can call the dedicated customer care team at 020-27218080 any day between 7 am and 11 pm for assistance.
The PAN card is typically delivered within 15 to 20 business days from the date of application submission. You can monitor the progress of your PAN card application status through the official NSDL or UTIITSL websites. This process requires a unique 15-digit Acknowledgement Number, which is provided once you submit your application.
If you have applied for a PAN card through either the UTIITSL or NSDL portal, you will receive periodic notifications via SMS and email from the Income Tax Department regarding the status of your new PAN card. These updates will inform you whether your PAN card is in the printing process, has been printed, or has been dispatched to your address.
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Understanding the meaning of the digits in your PAN number
The PAN card is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department. The first five characters of the PAN card are alphabets, the next four are numbers, and the last character is an alphabet. Here is what each of these characters means:
The first three alphabetical characters are a random combination of letters ranging from AAA to ZZZ, such as AZT or ZRT. The fourth character represents the status of the PAN cardholder in the eyes of the Income Tax Department. For individual taxpayers, this letter is "P", which stands for "person". The other nine letters that can represent the fourth character are C, H, F, A, T, B, L, J, and G.
The fifth character is the first letter of the surname of the PAN cardholder. For example, if the surname is Singh, then the fifth character would be "S". It is important to note that only the last name of the holder is considered here. In the case of non-individual PAN cardholders, the fifth character represents the first letter of the PAN holder's name.
The next four characters are sequential numbers ranging from 0001 to 9999. These numbers represent the series currently running in the Income Tax Department.
The last digit of the PAN card is an alphabet check digit, which can be any letter.
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How to verify your PAN
Verifying your PAN card is a simple process. The Income Tax Department (ITD) has authorized Protean eGov Technologies Limited (Protean) to launch an online PAN verification service for eligible entities. This service is primarily aimed at companies and other entities required to furnish an Annual Information Return (AIR) or Statement of Financial Transaction (SFT).
To verify your PAN card, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the official website of the Department of Income Tax (Government of India).
- Go to the 'Know Your PAN' section.
- Enter your status (individual, Hindu Undivided Family, Company, Government, Association of Persons, etc.), surname, middle name, first name, gender, date of birth, and mobile number.
- Click 'Submit' and you will receive the details.
Alternatively, you can verify your PAN card by visiting the department's e-filing portal. On the right-hand side, you will find "Verify Your PAN Details". Here, you will need to provide details such as your PAN card number, full name, date of birth, and status (individual, HUF, company, association of persons, etc.). The portal will then display a message stating whether the details match the PAN number.
For those who wish to verify their PAN card using their Aadhaar Card, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the income tax e-filing website.
- Find the 'LINK AADHAAR' option listed under 'QUICK LINKS'.
- You will be redirected to the online PAN verification page.
- Input your PAN and Aadhaar number specifics within the 'LINK AADHAAR STATUS' segment.
- Review the 'VIEW LINK AADHAAR STATUS' section for confirmation details regarding your PAN Card and Aadhaar number linkage.
It is important to note that some entities may only require your PAN number for verification, while others might ask for a photocopy or soft copy of the document.
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Frequently asked questions
PAN stands for Permanent Account Number.
A PAN number is a 10-digit alphanumeric number, with the first 5 characters being alphabets, followed by 4 numeric digits, and ending with an alphabet.
The fourth letter of a PAN number reflects the status of the cardholder. For example, ''P' denotes an individual, 'H' denotes an HUF, 'F' denotes a firm, and 'C' denotes a company.
The fifth letter of a PAN number is the first letter of the cardholder's surname in the case of individuals. For non-individual cardholders, it represents the first letter of the PAN holder's name.
You can find your PAN number by visiting the official website of the Income Tax Department and clicking on the 'Instant PAN through Aadhar' option under the 'Quick Links' section. Then, enter your Aadhar number and captcha code, and you will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number.











































