New Delhi
In India, the Aadhaar card and PAN card are two essential identity documents. The Aadhaar card is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and contains a 12-digit unique identity number based on biometric and demographic data. The PAN (Permanent Account Number) card, on the other hand, is issued by the Income Tax Department and is mainly used for financial and tax-related transactions. Linking your Aadhaar with your PAN is now mandatory, and failing to do so can have serious consequences.
How to Link Aadhaar with PAN Card
The process of linking Aadhaar and PAN is simple and can be completed in a few steps either online or via SMS.
1. Online Method (Through Income Tax Website)
Step 1: Visit the official Income Tax e-filing website: https://www.incometax.gov.in
Step 2: Click on the “Link Aadhaar” option under the Quick Links section.
Step 3: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.
Step 4: Enter your name as per Aadhaar and verify the details.
Step 5: If only the year of birth is mentioned in Aadhaar, tick the relevant box.
Step 6: Enter the captcha code and click on “Link Aadhaar”.
After successful verification from UIDAI, the Aadhaar will be linked with your PAN.
2. Via SMS
You can also link Aadhaar with PAN by sending an SMS from your registered mobile number.
Send the following text to 567678 or 56161:
UIDPAN <SPACE> <12-digit Aadhaar> <SPACE> <10-digit PAN>
For example: UIDPAN 123456789012 ABCDE1234F
Why Linking Aadhaar with PAN is Important
- Mandatory by Law: The Government of India has made it compulsory to link Aadhaar with PAN under Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act. If not linked, your PAN could become inoperative.
- Filing Income Tax Returns: To file your Income Tax Returns (ITR), linking Aadhaar with PAN is mandatory. Without the linkage, your ITR cannot be processed.
- Avoid Multiple PANs: Linking Aadhaar helps in eliminating duplicate or fraudulent PANs issued in different names. It ensures that a person holds only one PAN.
- Prevents Tax Evasion: The linking helps the government track taxable transactions and ensures that individuals or entities are not evading tax through multiple PAN cards.
- Faster Processing: Once Aadhaar is linked with PAN, the verification process during various financial transactions becomes easier and faster.
Consequences of Not Linking
If your Aadhaar is not linked with your PAN by the due date, your PAN will become inoperative. This means you won’t be able to carry out financial transactions that require PAN, such as opening bank accounts, investing in mutual funds, or buying property.
Final
Linking your Aadhaar and PAN card is a one-time process that ensures transparency in the financial system and reduces the chances of identity fraud. It is advisable to complete this linking as soon as possible to avoid inconvenience. The government has made the process easy and accessible to all citizens through online and offline modes.
