The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department to track financial transactions. It is mandatory for filing income tax returns, opening any bank or demat account, and conducting transactions above ₹50,000. Almost every financial institution in India requires your PAN to ensure tax compliance and prevent tax evasion. While primarily a tax document, it is widely accepted as a valid proof of identity.

Issued by Income Tax Department (via Protean and UTIITSL) · Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Ministry of Finance

• Opening a savings or current account
  mandatory for KYC to track high-value transactions

• Fixed deposits
  required to track interest income and deduct TDS (Tax Deducted at Source)

• Credit card applications
  mandatory to check credit history and financial health

• Mutual funds and demat accounts
  required by SEBI rules for all market investments

• Buying or selling a vehicle
  mandatory (other than two-wheelers)

• Property transactions
  required for buying or selling immovable property valued over ₹10,00,000

• Cash deposits
  mandatory for depositing more than ₹50,000 in a day

• Foreign currency exchange
  required for travelling abroad and sending money overseas

• Indian citizens (residents and non-residents)

• Minors (applied through parents or guardians)

• Foreign citizens earning income in India or holding assets here

• Hindu Undivided Families (HUF)

• Companies, partnerships, and trusts operating in India

• Proof of Identity
  any one of Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License

• Proof of Address
  any one of Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License, recent electricity bill, bank account statement

• Proof of Date of Birth
  any one of Aadhaar Card, Birth Certificate, Passport, Matriculation certificate

• Minors
  parents' or guardians' proof of identity and address along with the minor's proof of birth

• Foreigners
  copy of passport, Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card, or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card

1. 1

   Go to the official Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL PAN application portal

2. 2

   Select 'Apply for New PAN Card (Form 49A for Indians)'

3. 3

   Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on your Aadhaar card

4. 4

   Choose to submit documents digitally using Aadhaar e-KYC (no physical documents needed) or upload scanned copies

5. 5

   Pay the application fee online using UPI, debit card, or net banking

6. 6

   Authenticate with an Aadhaar OTP if using e-KYC

7. 7

   Save the 15-digit acknowledgement number to track your application status

1. 1

   Download and print Form 49A (for Indian citizens) from the Income Tax website

2. 2

   Fill the form in block letters using black ink

3. 3

   Paste two recent passport-size photographs in the designated boxes

4. 4

   Sign across the photo on the left and in the box on the right

5. 5

   Attach photocopies of your identity, address, and date of birth proofs

6. 6

   Visit the nearest PAN/TIN Facilitation Centre (TIN-FC)

7. 7

   Submit the form and pay the fee in cash or by demand draft

8. 8

   Collect your acknowledgement receipt

• Protean (formerly NSDL) TIN website (www.onlineservices.nsdl.com)

• UTIITSL website (www.pan.utiitsl.com)

• Income Tax e-Filing portal (for instant e-PAN using Aadhaar)

• Physical PAN/TIN Facilitation Centres across India

• Common Service Centres (CSCs) in rural and semi-urban areas

• Income Tax Department e-Filing portal ('Verify Your PAN' service)

• Scanning the enhanced QR code printed on new physical PAN cards using the official app

• DigiLocker app (by fetching the PAN record directly from the Income Tax database)

• API verification services used by banks and NBFCs during KYC

• Physical PAN Card
  the standard plastic or PVC card mailed to your address, universally accepted

• e-PAN
  a digitally signed PDF format, holds the exact same legal value as the physical card

• Instant e-PAN
  generated quickly via Aadhaar KYC, valid everywhere but does not have your signature (needs to be signed physically or updated later for some bank processes)

• DigiLocker PAN
  fetched directly into the DigiLocker app, accepted as valid ID under the IT Act

1. 1

   Visit the Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL e-PAN download page

2. 2

   Enter your PAN number, Aadhaar number, and Date of Birth

3. 3

   Enter the captcha code and submit

4. 4

   Generate an OTP sent to your registered mobile number or email

5. 5

   Enter the OTP and pay a small fee (₹8.26) if your PAN was generated more than 30 days ago

6. 6

   Download the digitally signed PDF

7. 7

   Password to open the PDF => your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format

1. 1

   Go to the Protean or UTIITSL PAN portal

2. 2

   Select 'Changes or Correction in existing PAN Data / Reprint of PAN Card'

3. 3

   Fill in your PAN number and the fields you want to update (tick the box next to the field to mark it for change)

4. 4

   Upload the supporting proof for the change (e.g., marriage certificate or gazette notification for a name change)

5. 5

   Submit and pay the standard fee (₹107)

6. 6

   Authenticate via Aadhaar e-KYC or send physical documents to the processing centre

1. 1

   Visit the Protean or UTIITSL 'Track PAN Status' page

2. 2

   Select 'PAN - New / Change Request' as the application type

3. 3

   Enter your 15-digit acknowledgement number

4. 4

   Enter the captcha code and click submit

5. 5

   The screen will show whether it is under process, dispatched (with a tracking number), or requires more documents

1. 1

   File an FIR or police report if you suspect it was stolen to prevent misuse (optional but recommended)

2. 2

   Go to the Protean or UTIITSL portal

3. 3

   Select 'Reprint of PAN Card'

4. 4

   Enter your PAN number and Aadhaar number

5. 5

   Pay the reprint fee (₹50)

6. 6

   The new physical card will be printed with the same number and mailed to your registered address

• PAN-Aadhaar linking
  Mandatory for all eligible Indian citizens; failing to link makes the PAN inoperative (you cannot file taxes, and higher TDS/TCS will apply); penalty to link after the deadline is ₹1,000

• Bank account linking
  mandatory to link PAN to all bank accounts to avoid TDS deductions at a higher rate (usually 20%)

• Holding more than one PAN is illegal in India and attracts a penalty of ₹10,000 under Section 272B of the Income Tax Act

• Your PAN never changes, even if you change your name, address, or state of residence

• You do not need to be 18 to get a PAN; even infants can have one

• The physical card is not strictly necessary for e-filing taxes; knowing the 10-digit number is enough

• A PAN card does not prove your Indian citizenship, as foreign nationals can also hold one

• If your PAN becomes inoperative due to not linking with Aadhaar, your mutual fund SIPs and stock market trades will be blocked

• Name mismatch with Aadhaar => ensure your name on the PAN application perfectly matches your Aadhaar, or e-KYC will fail instantly

• Applying for a second PAN when the first is lost => this is illegal; you must apply for a 'Reprint' or 'Correction', not a 'New PAN'

• Using Instant e-PAN for complex bank loans => instant e-PANs lack your signature, which some banks reject; fix this by applying for a signature update online

• Ignoring the Aadhaar linking deadline => makes the PAN inoperative, leading to failed KYC and 20% TDS on fixed deposits; fix by paying ₹1,000 on the e-Filing portal to link them

• Sending documents to the wrong address => if applying offline, ensure you mail documents to Protean or UTIITSL exactly as instructed on the acknowledgement receipt

• Always write 'Submitted for [Purpose] on [Date]' across photocopies of your PAN card before giving them to anyone

• Never share your PAN details on unverified loan apps, as they can misuse it to check your credit score or open bogus loans

• Check your Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS regularly on the Income Tax portal to ensure no one is misusing your PAN for high-value transactions

• Do not post photos of your PAN card on social media or send them via unencrypted messaging groups

• Only download the e-PAN from the official Income Tax, Protean, UTIITSL portals or DigiLocker

• Aaykar Sampark Kendra (Income Tax Toll-Free): 1800-180-1961

• Protean (NSDL) Customer Care: 020-27218080

• UTIITSL Contact Centre: 022-67931300

• Email for Protean: tininfo@proteantech.in

• Email for UTIITSL: utiitsl.gsd@utiitsl.com

• incometax.gov.in
• protean-tinpan.com
• pan.utiitsl.com
• rbi.org.in

Last checked: 4 November 2026

Rules, fees and timelines change. Always confirm on the official website before you apply.