Why link PAN with Aadhaar?
The Income Tax Department requires every eligible PAN holder to link PAN with Aadhaar. A PAN that is not linked becomes inoperative, which means you cannot file returns, receive refunds or complete many bank and investment transactions, and higher TDS may be deducted.
Check your link status first
- Open the Income Tax e-filing portal at incometax.gov.in.
- Under Quick Links, choose Link Aadhaar Status.
- Enter PAN and Aadhaar number and click View Link Aadhaar Status.
You can also check by SMS: type UIDPAN, then your 12-digit Aadhaar, then your 10-digit PAN, and send it to 567678 or 56161.
How to link PAN and Aadhaar online
- Go to incometax.gov.in and select Link Aadhaar under Quick Links (no login needed).
- Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, then click Validate.
- If the fee applies, pay Rs 1,000 through the e-Pay Tax option. Choose the assessment year, select Other Receipts (500) as the payment type, and pay online.
- Once payment is reflected, return to Link Aadhaar and enter your details, name as on Aadhaar and mobile number.
- Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile and submit.
The link is usually confirmed within a few days, and you can check the status again to be sure.
Common problems
- Name or date of birth mismatch between PAN and Aadhaar: correct one of them first through NSDL or UTIITSL for PAN, or the UIDAI portal for Aadhaar.
- Mobile not linked with Aadhaar: update it at an Aadhaar centre.
- Payment done but link not accepted: wait for the challan to reflect and try again.
Fee note
The Rs 1,000 fee applies to those who link after the free window that closed on 30 June 2023. If your PAN is already inoperative, linking and paying the fee makes it operative again within about 30 days. Check the portal for any current changes.