Form 93 is a new category-specific PAN application form which was introduced as per section 262 of the Income Tax Act 2025, and Rule 158 of the Income Tax Rules, 2026.
Form 93 is the official application form for the allotment of a Permanent Account Number (PAN) for citizens of India which is mentioned in Rule 158 of the Income Tax Rules, 2026 along with section 262 of the Income Tax Act 2025.
As per the new Income Tax Act 2025, both Form 93 and Form 94 has now been split into four category-specific forms to avoid irrelevant field results, reduce errors and improve the overall applicant experience.
Form 93 is focused specifically on citizens of India and not companies, HUFs, trusts or foreign entities.It is applicable to resident Indians, NRIs, and RNORs (Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident), as long as they hold Indian citizenship.
Form 93 replaces Form 49A, with a special focus on individual applicants who are Indian citizens. As per the previous Income Tax Act 1961, Form 49A was applicable to all Indian citizens including individuals, companies, HUFs, and entities which are formed in India. This one size fits-all approach led to confusion and redundant fields.
As per the Income Tax Rules, 2026, the previous Form 49A has been majorly split into two new forms as mentioned below. Below mentioned is the difference between Form of 1962 Act with those in New form of 2026 Act:
| Old Form (IT Rules, 1962) | New Form IT rules, 2026 | Applicant Category |
| Form 49A | Form 93 | Individual-citizen of India (resident, RNOR, NRI) |
| Form 49A | Form 94 | Non-individual Indian entities (HUFs, firms, trust, companies) |
| Form 49AA | Form 95 | Individual- who is not a citizen of India (Foreign national, OCI, POI) |
| Form 49AA | Form 96 | Non- Individual foreign entities )incorporated/ formed outside India) |
All individual Indian citizens, regardless of your current place of residence, this includes
Key Note: If you are a foreign national, OCI card holder or POI (Person of Indian Origin) without Indian Citizenship, you must apply as per Form 95 instead.
Form 93 has introduced multiple new fields and requirements for and improved accuracy, reduce Aadhaar mismatches, and ensure better compliances. Below mentioned are the key changes.
Mother’s Name is essential | Initially, as per Form 49A there was no requirement of mother's name, but now as per new Form 93 it is mandatory to add mother's name. |
Aadhar is mandatory but with exemptions | Aadhar number is now a required field for all Indian citizens who are applying for PAN. However, NRIs who have been outside India for more than 182 days in a Financial year are exempt from this requirement. |
Residential Status Field Added | A dedicated field for Residential Status has been introduced - Resident, Non-Resident (NRI), or Resident but Non Ordinarily Resident (RNOR). |
Contact Details and Email ID has become mandator | The contact details are now compulsory fields, enabling real time status updates and communication with the Income Tax department. |
Passport and TIN mandate for NRIs/ RNOR | Indian citizens who are NRIs or RNORs must mandatorily provide their Indian passport number and their Tax Identification Number (TIN) which is issued by their country of residence. |
The name in the Aadhaar must match: | The name which is entered in Form 93 must exactly match the name of the applicant's Aadhaar card. In case where Aadhaar has initials, the full expanded name must also be provided along with supporting documents. |
As mentioned under Rule 158 of the Income Tax Rules, 2026 you are required to submit three type of supporting documents with Form 93
For NRIs, Aadhaar is not mandatory. A copy of Indian Passports would serve as Proof of Identity as well as Proof of Date of Birth. A recent Bank statement or utility bill form the country of residence is accepted as Proof of Address.
Income Tax Department also allows you to apply for a new PAN through its official e-filing portal
This method of application is specifically useful for those who are already registered on the e-filing portal and want to apply without switching platforms.
If you are holding an Indian Passport and applying for a PAN card, here’s everything you need to know.