The Income Tax (I-T) Department offers multiple easy ways to link your Permanent Account Number (PAN) with your Aadhaar card. Verifying whether your PAN is already connected to your Aadhaar is crucial to ensure it remains active and usable. With the deadline for linking PAN and Aadhaar approaching, failure to complete the process could result in your PAN being declared “inoperative” from January 1, 2026. This can cause difficulties in filing tax returns, claiming refunds, and conducting financial transactions.
Why Linking PAN with Aadhaar Is Important
Linking your PAN with Aadhaar is mandatory under current Indian tax regulations. An inoperative PAN can have serious financial implications, including:
- Inability to file Income Tax Returns (ITR)
- Withholding of pending tax refunds
- Higher Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rates
- Challenges in financial activities such as opening bank accounts or making investments
Ensuring your PAN is linked avoids these complications and keeps your financial dealings smooth.
Step-by-Step Guide to Linking PAN with Aadhaar Online
The Income Tax Department provides a simple online procedure to link PAN with Aadhaar through the Income Tax e-filing portal. Follow these steps:
- Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/
- Click on ‘Link Aadhaar’ under the ‘Quick Links’ section (no login required).
- Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and name exactly as mentioned on your Aadhaar card, then click Validate.
- An OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number; enter the OTP.
- If linking after the deadline, pay a Rs 1,000 penalty through e-Pay Tax under Minor Head.
- Submit the form after completing the payment.
How to Check Your PAN-Aadhaar Linking Status
Online Status Check
- Visit PAN-Aadhaar Link Status Portal
- Enter your PAN and Aadhaar numbers
- Click View Link Aadhaar Status
Check Status via SMS
You can also verify the link status through SMS:
- Send a message in this format:
UID PAN <12-digit Aadhaar> <10-digit PAN> - Send it to 567678 or 56161
- Example:
UID PAN 34512349891 CFIED1234J
Understanding an ‘Inoperative PAN’
An inoperative PAN is a PAN card that is no longer active due to non-linkage with Aadhaar. If your PAN becomes inoperative:
- Filing Income Tax Returns will not be possible
- Any pending tax refunds may be withheld
- TDS and TCS will be deducted at higher rates
- You may face issues in financial activities that require quoting your PAN, such as opening bank accounts, buying property, or investing in stocks
Timeframe for PAN-Aadhaar Linking Completion
Once you submit the linking request, the Income Tax Department sends your details to UIDAI for verification. The process is generally quick. You can check the status after one or two days to confirm successful linking.
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