PAN card: Your complete guide to its uses and application process

A PAN card is an identity proof issued by the Income-Tax Department to all taxpayers in India. A PAN card carries a 10-digit alpha-numeric PAN number of the person in whose name it has been issued. The PAN number is mandatory for performing any tax-related tasks in the country.

Providing your PAN number is compulsory for any Income Tax Department transaction or other financial transactions, such as opening a bank account, depositing cash in a bank account, opening a Demat account, selling and purchase of immovable properties and dealing in securities.

 PAN card format

The first five digits in a PAN card are letters, the next four digits are numbers and the last digit is again a letter. A typical PAN card number would look something like this:

PAN number structure

The first three characters in your PAN are random letters from A to Z.

The fourth character in your PAN reveals your status, which could be:

1. P: Person
2. H: HUF
3. C: Company
4. F: Firm
5. A: Association
6. T: Trusts
7. G: Government
8. L: Local authority
9. J: Artificial judicial person
10. B: Body of individuals

The fifth character in your PAN card represents the first letter of your surname.

The remaining characters are random.

E-PAN card: What is an ePAN?

An ePAN is a digitally signed, electronic PAN card. It is proof of allotment of your PAN card. In other words, an ePAN is a PAN card provided in a PDF format.

An ePAN carries the demographic details of the cardholder, including name, date of birth and picture. The details of the ePAN are recognised by a QR code scanner.

Once you apply for your e PAN card online, it will be sent to your registered email ID. The charges for an e PAN card are different from a physical PAN card. Unless you specifically mention that you also require a physical copy of the PAN card in your PAN application, you will receive only the e PAN card in your mail.

PAN card eligibility

All taxpayers in India are eligible to apply for a PAN card.

PAN card types

1. Individual
2. Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
3. Non-resident Indians (NRIs)
4. Society
5. Trusts
6. Partnerships
7. Firm
8. Company
9. Foreigners

PAN card forms

Form 49A: Indians have to submit Form 49A to apply for a PAN card.

Form 49AA: Foreign nationals have to submit Form 49AA to apply for a PAN card.

PAN card fee

You have to pay Rs 93 (excluding GST), to apply for a PAN card in India. Those applying for a PAN card from outside the country have to pay Rs 864, excluding GST. You can pay these charges by credit/debit card, demand draft or internet banking.

Can I have more than one PAN?

No, keeping more than one PAN is against the law and may attract a penalty of up to Rs 10,000.

What should I do if I have more than one PAN?

Submit a PAN change request application and mention the PAN that you are using at the top of the form. All other PANs allotted to you should be mentioned in ‘Item 11’ of the form. Copies of these PANs should be submitted for cancellation, along with the form.

Is it compulsory to link Aadhaar with a PAN card?

Under Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, anyone who possesses a PAN card as of July 1, 2017, must link their PAN with their Aadhaar number. Section 139AA also mandates quoting of Aadhaar while applying for a new PAN and filing a tax return.

PAN card customer care

NSDL e-Gov / Protean

PAN call centre : +91 020 27218080

UTI ITSL

Phone: +91 33 40802999

Email: utiitsl.gsd@utiitsl.com

PAN card: Did you know?

• A PAN card is not proof of Indian citizenship.
• Father’s name is not needed to apply for a PAN card.
• You have to quote your PAN card for transactions above Rs 2 lakhs.

Documents needed for PAN card application

Your PAN card application must be submitted with one identity proof, one address proof and proof of your date of birth.

Documents for Indian citizens

List of documents for firms, BOI, AOP, AOP (Trust), local authority, company, LLP, artificial juridical person

How to apply for a PAN card?

Online PAN card application

• Go to the NSDL or UTI portals.
• Fill out the form, attach the relevant documents and pay the fee online.
• Submit the form.

Offline

• Buy the application form from an authorised centre.
• Fill out the form and attach the relevant documents. Keep the processing fee handy.
• Submit the form.

In either case, your PAN card will be dispatched to your address within 15 days of submitting your online PAN card application. Your PAN card comes to you in the form of a laminated plastic card.

How to apply for a correction on a PAN card?

For any change in your PAN card, intimate the Income Tax Department, by furnishing the details in the form of ‘Request for New PAN Card Or/And Changes Or Correction in PAN Data. This can be done online, as well as offline. To do it offline, you have to submit the request form at the nearest PAN facilitation centre.

You can also download the PDF form from https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Documents/form-for-changes-in-pan.pdf.

To do so online, through NSDL, visit https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserRegisterContact.html

 Online, through UTIITSL, visit  https://www.pan.utiitsl.com/panonline_ipg/forms/csfPan.html/csfPreForm

What is instant PAN?

Holders of Aadhaar cards can apply for an instant PAN or ePAN on the Income Tax Department portal. However, you have to meet the following conditions to apply for an instant PAN:

1. You should never have been allotted a PAN.
2. Your mobile number should be linked with your Aadhaar number.
3. Your date of birth should be available on your Aadhaar card.
4.   You should not be a minor on the date of application for PAN.