PAN Card: Everything You Need to Know
A PAN Card, short for Permanent Account Number, is a 10-digit alphanumeric code issued by the Income Tax Department of India. Whether you’re an individual or a business entity, this card acts as a unique identification tool for a wide range of financial and legal purposes. All your tax-related details are linked to your PAN, ensuring accountability and transparency.
In simple terms, PAN is your financial fingerprint in the Indian system.
What Is a PAN Card?
The PAN itself is the number—a unique 10-digit alphanumeric code. The PAN card is the physical or digital document that holds this number along with your name, photograph, date of birth, and other relevant details.
Since January 1, 2017, new PAN cards include a QR code that helps verify the cardholder’s data such as name, father’s name, date of birth, and signature. This feature enhances security and simplifies authentication.
PAN Card Overview
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Full Form: Permanent Account Number
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Issuing Authority: Income Tax Department, Government of India
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Customer Care Number: 020 – 27218080
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First Introduced: 1972
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Validity: Lifetime
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Application Mode: Online & Offline
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Cost: ₹66 – ₹1,017
What Does a PAN Card Include?
Each PAN card features the following:
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Name of the Cardholder (Individual, Business, Firm, LLP, etc.)
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Father’s Name (for individuals only; mother’s name may appear in some cases)
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Date of Birth or Registration Date (for firms and entities)
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PAN Number (10-digit alphanumeric code)
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Signature (for individuals; acts as proof of signature)
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Photograph (for individuals; firms will not have a photo)
How Is a PAN Structured?
The PAN follows a structured 10-character format:
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First 3 characters – Random alphabetic series (A-Z)
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4th character – Taxpayer category:
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A: Association of Persons
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B: Body of Individuals
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C: Company
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F: Firm
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G: Government
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H: Hindu Undivided Family
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L: Local Authority
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J: Artificial Juridical Person
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P: Individual
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T: Trust
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5th character – First letter of the surname or entity name
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Next 4 characters – Numeric digits (0001 to 9999)
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10th character – Alphabetic check code
Who Can Get a PAN Card?
Eligibility includes:
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Indian Citizens
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Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
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Foreign nationals and entities
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Businesses, Firms, HUFs, LLPs, Trusts, Societies, and more
Types of PAN Cards
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Individual (including minors and students)
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Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
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Company
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Partnership Firm
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LLP
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Trust
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Society
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AOP/BOI
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Foreign citizens
PAN Application Forms
| Form | Who It’s For |
|---|---|
| 49A | Indian Citizens (including NRIs, Firms, AOP/BOI) |
| 49AA | Foreign Citizens |
| Correction/Reprint | Existing PAN holders needing changes or duplicates |
How to Apply for a PAN Card
1. Apply Online via NSDL Portal
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Visit NSDL portal.
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Select the application type as ‘New PAN – Indian Citizen (Form 49A)’ or ‘New PAN – Foreign Citizen (Form 49AA)’.
Select the applicable category and title, enter the last name, first name, middle name, date of birth/ incorporation, email and mobile number.
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Fill in your details.
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Get a Token Number.Click on the ‘Continue with PAN Application Form’ button.
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Upload documents and pay the fee.
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PAN is dispatched in 15–20 days.
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Visit UTIITSL website.
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Click “Apply for PAN Card”.
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Choose your category and document submission mode.
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Fill out and verify the form.
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Pay the fee and send documents to the nearest UTI office if required.
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PAN will be ready in approx. 15 days.
3.How To Apply PAN Card Online Via Income-Tax Portal (Instant E-PAN)?
Individuals having valid Aadhaar number can now apply for e-PAN instantly without filling up any application form. Here are the steps to apply for instant PAN card:
Step 1: Go to the Income Tax portal and click on ‘Instant e-PAN’ option.
Step 2: On the next page, click on ‘Get New e-PAN’.
Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number and click ‘Continue’.
Step 4: The OTP validation page will be displayed. Tick the checkbox and accept the terms and conditions. Click on the ‘Continue’ button.
Step 5: Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar registered mobile number, tick the checkbox and click ‘Continue’.
Step 6: You will see your personal details, such as name, date of birth, etc., as per your Aadhaar card. Click on ‘Validate Email’ to validate your email, tick the checkbox, and click ‘Continue’.
You will receive acknowledgement number and a confirmation message on your mobile number. Once e-PAN is alloted you will be intimated on the same. Usually, the e-PAN card will be generated within 10 minutes and you can download the same from the Income Tax portal.
If you want a hard copy of your PAN card, you might have to pay additional fees and request for delivery using reprint option.
The instant e-PAN card facility is available only to individual citizens above 18 years of age having a valid Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Any person other than Indian citizens, like NRIs, partnership firms, HUFs, companies, trusts, etc., cannot apply for an instant e-PAN card.
4. Apply Offline
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Download Form 49A (Indian) or Form 49AA (Foreigners).
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Fill the form, attach photos and documents.
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Submit at a PAN center and pay the fee.
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Wait for your PAN to arrive via post.
Documents Required for PAN Application
| Applicant Type | Documents Needed |
|---|---|
| Individuals | POI, POA, DOB (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, Driving License, etc.) |
| HUF | Affidavit by head of HUF with POI/POA |
| Companies | Certificate of Incorporation |
| LLPs | Certificate of Registration |
| Partnership Firms | Registration Certificate or Partnership Deed |
| Trusts | Trust Deed or Registration Certificate |
| AOP/BOI/Local Authority | Registration/Agreement Copy |
| Foreigners | Passport, PIO/OCI Card, TIN/CIN (with apostille or embassy attestation) |
PAN Card Fees
| Mode | Delivery | Fee (Incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical submission | India delivery | ₹107 |
| Physical submission | International delivery | ₹1,017 |
| Paperless e-KYC | India delivery | ₹101 |
| Paperless e-KYC | International delivery | ₹1,011 |
| e-PAN only | Email delivery | ₹66 – ₹72 |
Check PAN Application Status
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Visit NSDL or UTIITSL portal.
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Enter your acknowledgement or application number.
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View your status instantly.
How to Download e-PAN Card
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Go to NSDL/UTIITSL site.
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Enter PAN, DOB, or acknowledgment number.
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Authenticate via OTP and pay (if applicable).
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Click “Download e-PAN”.
Update or Correct PAN Details
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Go to NSDL/UTIITSL.
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Select “Correction in existing PAN”.
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Enter details and upload documents.
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Submit and pay fee.
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PAN is updated in about 15 days.
Do’s and Don’ts for PAN Application
Do’s:
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Fill the form in English
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Provide full and accurate address
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Use full names (no initials)
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Self-attest all documents properly
Don’ts:
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Don’t leave mandatory fields blank
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Don’t attach incorrect or irrelevant documents
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Don’t abbreviate names or address
Lost PAN? Apply for Duplicate
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Visit NSDL or UTIITSL
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Fill the form for reprint
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Enter details: PAN, Aadhaar, DOB
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Authenticate with OTP
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Pay the fee and get the duplicate sent to your address
Why Is PAN So Important?
A PAN card is more than just a tax ID—it is required for:
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Filing income tax
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Opening bank accounts
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Large transactions (above ₹50,000)
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Property or vehicle purchases
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e-KYC verification
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Government subsidies
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Mutual fund or stock market investments
e-KYC with PAN
Linking your PAN with Aadhaar enables e-KYC, which:
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Speeds up verifications
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Reduces paperwork
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Ensures security and authenticity
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Saves time for both users and service providers
Conclusion
The PAN Card is an essential part of India’s tax and financial systems. From paying taxes to opening a bank account, it plays a key role in identity verification and digital governance. Whether applying, correcting, or downloading PAN, the process is simple and accessible both online and offline.
Just make sure your information is correct, documents are valid, and you follow the application guidelines to avoid delays.
A PAN (Permanent Account Number) card is a 10-digit alphanumeric ID issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It’s crucial for tax filing, financial transactions, identity verification, and e-KYC processes.
Any Indian citizen, Non-Resident Indian (NRI), foreign national, or legal entity (such as companies, firms, trusts, and HUFs) can apply for a PAN card.
Required documents include proof of identity (e.g., Aadhaar, Passport), proof of address (e.g., Voter ID, utility bills), and proof of date of birth (e.g., birth certificate, driving license). The list varies depending on the applicant type.
Form 49A is for Indian citizens and entities, while Form 49AA is for foreign nationals and entities.
The fee ranges from ₹66 to ₹1,017 depending on the mode of application and whether physical or e-PAN is chosen, and the delivery location (India or abroad).
Typically, it takes 15 to 20 working days after submitting the application online or offline.
Yes, you can request changes or corrections on the NSDL or UTIITSL website. Submit supporting documents and pay the processing fee.
Go to the NSDL or UTIITSL website, enter your application or acknowledgement number, and view the current status.
An e-PAN is a digitally signed PAN card that can be downloaded online from the NSDL or UTIITSL website by verifying your identity and paying a fee (if applicable).
