A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a mandatory identity document issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It is required for filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts, investing in financial instruments, and carrying out high-value transactions. You can apply PAN card online or offline through authorised government portals.
Key Highlights
- PAN card can be applied online through the Income Tax Portal, NSDL (Protean), or UTIITSL.
- Instant e-PAN is available for individuals with Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers.
- PAN application fees vary based on dispatch mode and location.
- PAN correction or update requests can also be filed online.
- Corporates receive PAN automatically at the time of incorporation.
PAN card applications can be submitted online through three authorised platforms. Online applications are faster, paperless, and allow easy tracking of application status.
The available online methods include:
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.
Note:
Applicants can apply PAN card online through the NSDL (Protean eGov Technologies) portal by submitting Form 49A (Indian citizens) or Form 49AA (foreign citizens).
Step 1: Visit the NSDL website.
Step 2: Select the application type as 'New PAN - Indian Citizen (Form 49A)' or ‘New PAN - Foreign Citizen (Form 49AA)’.
Step 3: You will receive a Token Number on your email ID. Click on the ‘Continue with PAN Application Form’ button.
Step 4: Read the detailed instructions before filling in the details on the PAN card application form.
Step 5: After submitting the PAN card application, the payment page will appear. Select the mode of payment and pay the required fees. Payment can be made through credit/debit card, demand draft or net-banking.
Upon successful payment, an acknowledgment will be displayed through which you can check your application status. It will also be sent to your email ID.
Note: If you choose the ‘Forward application documents physically’ option on the PAN card application, you will have to take a print out of the acknowledgement and send the acknowledgement along with the attachment of the required documents to the following address by post:
Income Tax PAN Services Unit,
Protean eGov Technologies Limited,
4th Floor, Sapphire Chambers,
Baner Road, Baner, Pune - 411045
Once the application is processed and the PAN card is generated, it will be sent to your email or residential address within 15-20 days.
PAN card applications can also be submitted through the UTIITSL portal using Form 49A or Form 49AA.
Step 1: Visit the UTIITSL website.
Step 2: Click the ‘Click to Appy’ under the ‘PAN Card for Indian Citizen/ NRI' tab or PAN Card for Foreign Citizen' tab.
Step 3: Select the ‘Apply for New PAN Card (Form 49A)’ tab or ‘Apply for New PAN Card (Form 49AA)’ tab.
Step 4: Select the mode of submission of documents, status of applicant, the PAN card mode and click the ‘Submit’ butto
Step 5: You will receive a reference number. Click ‘OK’.
Step 6: Enter the required details on the form, such as personal details, document details, contact and parent details, address details and other details. Upload the required documents and submit the form.
Step 7: Make the payment of the application fee. On successful payment, an acknowledgment will be displayed and sent to your email ID.
Note: If If you choose the ‘Physical Mode’ option on the PAN card form, you will have to take a print out of the form, affix photograph and signature, attach the documents to the form and post them to any one of the following nearest UTIITSL offices:
1) PAN PDC Incharge - Mumbai region,
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited,
Plot No. 3, Sector 11, CBD Belapur,
Navi Mumbai - 400614
2) PAN PDC Incharge - Kolkata region,
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited,
29, N. S. Road, Ground Floor,
Opp. Gilander House and Standard Chartered Bank,
Kolkata - 700001
3) PAN PDC Incharge - Chennai region,
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited,
D-1, First Floor,
Thiru -Vi-Ka Industrial Estate,
Guindy, Chennai - 600032
4) PAN PDC Incharge - New Delhi region,
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited,
1/28 Sunlight Building, Asaf Ali Road,
New Delhi -110002
The UTIITSL will process the application and documents and issue the PAN card within 15 days.
Applicants who prefer offline mode can apply for a PAN card by submitting a physical application form.
Step 1: Obtain the ‘Form 49A’ or ‘Form 49AA’ from the nearest PAN centre. You can also download the PAN card application form from the Protean e-Gov website.
Step 2: Fill in the details in the application.
Step 3: Attach your signature and photograph to the application.
Step 4: Submit the form and the required documents to the nearest PAN centre.
Step 5: Pay the fees for PAN card application.
Step 6: You will get the acknowledgement number from which you can track the status of your PAN card application status.
Once the documents are verified, a PAN card will be issued within 15 days.
The following individuals and entities are eligible to apply for a PAN card:
Below are the documents required to be submitted along with the PAN card application:
Click here for the entire list of documents.
The PAN card application fees vary depending on the option you choose for dispatching your PAN card. The PAN card application fees are as follows:
Mode of Application | Mode of Dispatch | Fee (Including GST) |
Online/Offline (Physical documents) | Physical PAN – India | ₹107 |
Online/Offline (Physical documents) | Physical PAN – Outside India | ₹1,017 |
Online (Paperless mode) | Physical PAN – India | ₹101 |
Online (Paperless mode) | Physical PAN – Outside India | ₹1,011 |
Online/Offline | e-PAN to email | ₹66–₹72 |
The Ministry of Corporate affairs has integrated the PAN allotment for companies at the time of company incorporation itself.
For one person companies, private limited companies, public limited companies and limited liability partnership firms, there is no requirement for making separate PAN applications. PAN is allotted automatically at the time of incorporation and will be reflected in such incorporation certificate.
If you want to make changes in the existing PAN such as change in name, date of birth etc, you can apply for it online. The procedure is almost the same as you apply for new PAN and you also need to submit the documents to support the change required in PAN. Here is the process for making changes or corrections in PAN card:
The advent of technology has made PAN application easy and simple. Even the physical copies of the required documents need not be posted to the NSDL or the UTIITSL offices. When the online mode of document submission is selected, they can be uploaded and submitted online.
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