The deadline to link your PAN (Permanent Account Number) with your Aadhaar card is fast approaching — December 31. If these two important documents aren’t linked by the cut-off date, your PAN may become inoperative, affecting important financial activities like filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts, and carrying out various financial transactions.
Why PAN-Aadhaar Linking Is Mandatory
The government requires every Indian citizen who holds a PAN to link it with their Aadhaar number for identity verification and to curb tax evasion. PAN is essential for financial transactions like income tax filing, investments, high-value purchases, and bank accounts. Aadhaar strengthens this by providing a verifiable identity proof with biometric data.
Failing to link PAN with Aadhaar by the deadline risks your PAN being marked inoperative — which can impact tax refunds, returns, and financial services.
Who Needs to Link PAN With Aadhaar
Almost all Indian citizens who hold a valid PAN must complete this linking. There are a few exceptions for non-residents or those not eligible to have an Aadhaar number, but for the majority of residents the requirement applies.
Step-by-Step Guide to Linking PAN With Aadhaar
Here’s how you can link your PAN with your Aadhaar in just a few steps:
1. Gather Your Documents
Make sure you have your PAN card and Aadhaar card (or number) handy before you begin. Both documents should reflect your correct and matching name, date of birth and other details to avoid errors.
2. Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Website Portal
Go to the official income tax filing portal and look for the PAN-Aadhaar linking option on the homepage.
3. Enter PAN and Aadhaar Details
Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and name as per Aadhaar. Ensure that the name matches exactly how it appears on your Aadhaar card.
4. Confirm Details and Submit
After entering the details, verify that they match. Click “Submit” to initiate the linking request.
5. OTP Verification
Once submitted, an OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter the OTP to complete the verification.
6. Confirmation Message
After successful validation, you will receive a confirmation message on the screen and via SMS. Your PAN and Aadhaar will be linked instantly.
What to Do If There’s a Mismatch
If your name or date of birth doesn’t match between PAN and Aadhaar, the linking may fail. In that case, you must:
- Update details in either PAN or Aadhaar first
- Ensure both documents reflect the same personal information
- Then try linking again
Benefits of Linking
Linking PAN with Aadhaar ensures seamless compliance with the tax system, simplifies financial processes, and prevents your PAN from becoming inactive. It also helps in quicker processing of tax returns and refunds.
Conclusion
With the December 31 deadline approaching, it’s important to complete PAN-Aadhaar linking soon to avoid inconvenience in tax filings and financial operations. The process is relatively quick and can be done online, ensuring your financial identity remains active and compliant.
