The PAN (Permanent Account Number) card is a very important document issued by the Income Tax Department. It is a 10-digit unique identification number. The PAN card is a physical card that contains your PAN, along with your name, date of birth, father’s or spouse’s name, and photo. A copy of this card can be used as proof of identity or date of birth. But have you checked whether your PAN is active or not? You can easily find this out online from home. If your PAN becomes inactive for any reason, you may face difficulties.
How to Check if Your PAN Card Is Active
To find out if your PAN card is active, follow these steps:
1. Visit the Income Tax Department Portal
Go to the official Income Tax Department portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/.
2. Navigate to PAN Status Verification
On the left side, under the ‘Quick Links’ section, click on “Verify PAN Status.”
3. Enter Required Details
On the new page, enter your PAN number, full name, date of birth, and your registered mobile number. Click on “Continue.”
4. OTP Verification
You will receive a one-time password (OTP) on your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP in the given box and click on “Validate.”
5. Check Your PAN Status
After validation, a message will appear with a green tick, stating “PAN is Active” and confirming that your details are correct.
Reasons Why PAN Becomes Inactive
There can be many reasons for your PAN card to become inactive. One of the main reasons is the lack of PAN-Aadhaar links. Apart from this, if a person has multiple PAN cards, the Income Tax Department will deactivate the PAN card. The Income Tax Department will deactivate those PAN cards that are considered fake because they have been issued to persons with the wrong identity or non-existent persons.
What to Do If Your PAN Becomes Inactive
If your PAN becomes inactive, follow these steps to reactivate it:
1. Draft a Request Letter
Write a letter requesting the activation of your PAN card and send it to the assessment officer (AO) in your jurisdiction in the Income Tax Department.
2. Submit Required Documents
Along with the letter, submit the following documents:
- A copy of the PAN used for filing your income tax returns.
- An indemnity bond in favour of the Income Tax Department.
- A copy of the income tax return (ITR) filed in the last three years using the deactivated PAN number.
3. Wait for Processing
Once the AO receives your request and verifies the documents, they will reactivate your PAN card within 15-30 days.
This process ensures your PAN remains active and ready for use.