What is a PAN card? How to apply it online

The Income Tax Department enabled the Permanent Account Number (PAN) system to avoid miscalculations and errors in tax assessments. The earlier system of tax assessments of the citizens of India was familiar to some individuals. Hence, PAN was taken into force by the Government of India in the year 1972, where a unique identification was provided to all the eligible taxpayers of the country. A PAN card includes personal details of the taxpayer like their name, father’s name, signature, Date of Birth etc.

What is PAN?

PAN stands for Permanent Account Number. A PAN is issued by the Income Tax Department, Government of India, to identify various country taxpayers. PAN is a unique identification number containing both alphabets and numbers. This 10 digits alphanumeric number is assigned to Indian taxpayers, whether persons or companies, with a motive to store all tax-related information against a single PAN number. Hence, no two tax-paying entities can have a single PAN number.

What is a PAN card?

A PAN card is a physical card containing the Permanent Account Number of the cardholder, date of birth, name, photograph, father’s name or spouse’s name etc. PAN card is issued by the Income Tax Department. 

Different taxpayers of a country are issued pan cards by the Income Tax department. 

A PAN card issued to individuals contains the individual’s name, DOB, photograph, father’s or spouse’s name, signature etc. At the same time, a PAN card issued to companies has the company’s name on it along with the registration date, QR code, date of issue of PAN etc.

Features of PAN Card

A PAN has the following features on it- 

• Name of the Cardholder. 

• Date of Birth(DOB) of the cardholder

• Father’s name of the cardholder. 

• Permanent Account Number (10-digit alphanumeric number)

• Photograph of the cardholder

• Signature of the cardholder. 

Why do you need PAN

• It’s proof of Identity
• Helps in the registration of business
• Helps in a financial transaction
• It helps to complete KYC formalities
• Mandatory in filing income tax returns

Charges for applying for PAN card  

Charges for applying for a PAN card depend on the application type and the address type. 

1. For Indian Address: ₹110/-
2. For foreign address: ₹1020/-

This amount is inclusive of GST. Fees payment can be made through a demand draft drawn in favour of ‘NSDL-PAN’, credit card/debit card or net banking.

How to apply for PAN card online

• Through NSDL Portal

Step 1: Open the NSDL Site https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserRegisterContact.html to apply for a new PAN.

Step 2: Select the type of Application that you want to submit (Form 49A for Indian citizen and 49AA for foreign applicant)

Step 3: Select the category- individual, an association of person, a body of individuals etc

Step 4: Fill in all the details like name, date of birth, mobile number, email-ID etc

Step 5: Tick mark on all the guidelines

Step 6: Submit the application by entering CAPTCHA

Step 7: Make the payment of fees using credit card/cheque/net banking/debit card etc

Step 8: Now you will get an acknowledgement number that you can save for future references.

Step 9: Now take the prit out of the form, paste a photograph on it, sign it with black pen and mail it to the income tax department. 

Step 10: Send your residential proof, identity proof, or other support documents, along with the receipt, within 15 days of the date of the online application.

Step 11: After your documents have been successfully validated, you will be sent your PAN card number to your registered mobile number and email address

• Through UTIITSL Portal

Step 1: Visit the website of UTIITSL and click on ‘Apply for PAN Card’

Step 2: Now you have been redirected to page where you have to select PAN Card for Indian citizen, foreign citizen or download e-PAN Card

Step 3: Select option that best describe your citizenship and now opt for ‘Apply for new PAN Card’

Step 4: Now you will be redirected to Form 49A or Form 49AA, where you will have two options for filling out the form: ‘Physical Mode’ and ‘Digital Mode.

Step 5: Click on ‘Physical Mode,’ and then submit the signed application to the nearest UTIITSL office for a physical copy of the PAN card

Step 6: Fill in all of the required information, such as ‘Applicant Status,’ and select your preferred PAN card mode. Once done, submit the application.

Step 7: Make the required payment for your PAN Card on the following screen, using a DD, cheque, internet banking, credit card, or debit card

Step 8: Now, take a printout of the acknowledgement paper, paste your passport-sized photograph on it, and sign it in black ink.

Step 9: Send the acknowledgement receipt, along with copies of the identity and residence proofs, to the Income Tax Department within 15 days of submitting the online application

Step 10: After the documentation process is completed, your PAN number will be sent to your registered mobile number and email address

Documents required for applying for PAN card 

The following documents must be furnished at the time of applying for PAN card:

Document for Identity Proof:

1. Photocopy of any of the following document:

• Aadhar Card
• Driving licence
• Passport
• Ration card
• Arm’s licence
• Photo ID card issued by state/central government or public undertaking
• Pensioner card with photograph
• Ex-servicemen contributory Health Scheme photo card or Central Government Health Scheme Card

2. Original Certificate of identity signed by  a Member of Parliament/Member of Legislative Assembly/Municipal Councilor/Gazetted officer
3. Original bank certificate  on the letterhead  from the branch (with name and stamp of the issuing officer) having duly attested photograph and bank account number  of the applicant

Document for Address Proof:

1. Photocopy of any of the following documents:

• Aadhaar Card 
• Voter ID card
• Driving Licence
• Passport
• Copy of first and last page of spouse’s passport (if the address mentioning in the form matches with the address mentioned in the passport of the spouse)
• Post office passbook carrying the address of the applicant
• Latest property tax assessment order
• Allotment letter of accommodation issued by the state or central government (should not be more than three years old)
• Property registration document
• Domicile certificate issued by the government
• Electricity bill
• Water bill
• Landline or broadband connection bill
• Proof of gas connection (card/book with the latest bill)
• Bank account statement 

Self attested copy required for bank account/credit card statement, utility bill etc (not more than 3 months old)

2. If the applicant is a minor then parent’s/guardian’s identity proof that would serve as both the identity and address proof of the minor applicant.
3. The documents (as proof of identity) needed for Hindu Undivided Family or HUF(s) includes an affidavit of the Karta of the HUF declaring the name, father’s name, and address of all the coparceners on the application date.
4. If the communication address provided is an office address, the individual is required to submit both proof of their office address and proof of their residential address.
5. The proof of address for an Indian citizen residing outside India can be provided by submitting either the latest bank account statement from their country of residence or a copy of their Non-resident External (NRE) bank account statement, which should not be more than 3 months old.

Document for Date of Birth proof

The applicant must provide a copy of any of the following documents that contain their name and date of birth: 

• Aadhaar Card 
• Passport
• Driving Licence
• Voter ID card
• Birth certificate issued by the municipal authority or any office authorised to issue a birth certificate by the Registrar of Birth and Deaths or the Indian Consulate
• Photo identity card bearing the name and DOB issued by the state or central government or any public sector undertaking
• Domicile certificate issued by the government
• A photo card issued by Central Government Health Service Scheme or Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme photo card
• Pension Payment Order (PPO)
• Marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriage
• SSLC certificate or Mark sheet of a recognized body
• An affidavit obtained in lieu of date of birth certificate.

Final words

PAN (Permanent Account Number) card is a 10-digit alphanumeric code issued by the Indian Income Tax Department to track financial transactions and taxes paid by individuals and entities in India. To apply for a PAN card, one can fill out an online or offline application, attach the necessary documents such as proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of date of birth, and pay the required fees. Once the application is submitted and verified, the PAN card will be issued and delivered to the applicant’s address. It is important to note that having a PAN card is mandatory for certain financial transactions in India, and individuals must ensure that they maintain accurate and up-to-date information with the Income Tax Department.

Frequently Asked Questions