In today’s life, the Permanent Account Number (PAN) is essential for most people, especially for employees and taxpayers. It also helps the government prevent financial fraud.
This is why the Income Tax Department urges everyone to link their PAN with Aadhaar. The deadline for this is December 31, 2024. If you don’t link your PAN with Aadhaar by then, your PAN card will be deactivated. This could cause issues, including problems with transactions.
Why is it necessary to link PAN with Aadhaar
In the era of technology, cases of financial fraud have also increased significantly. Many fintech companies are accused of using PAN details in an unauthorized manner to create customer profiles. This is the reason why the Home Ministry has directed to limit access to personal details through PAN so that misuse of personal information can be prevented.
The Income Tax Department has made it mandatory for all taxpayers to link their PAN with Aadhaar. If you don’t link them before the deadline, the department will deactivate your PAN card. This could lead to many issues, including difficulties in making financial transactions. Therefore, check the status of your PAN-Aadhaar link. If your PAN isn’t linked to Aadhaar, link it immediately.
How to check the PAN-Aadhaar link status?
- Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal (www.incometax.gov.in).
- Click on the ‘Quick Links’ option on the homepage.
- Click on Link Aadhaar Status, and enter the PAN and Aadhaar card number.
If your PAN and Aadhaar are already linked, a message will appear saying, “Your PAN is already linked to the given Aadhaar.” If they are not linked, the pop-up will say, “PAN is not linked to Aadhaar. Please click on ‘Link Aadhaar’ under the Quick Links section on the left side of the website. You will be directed to a page where you must enter your PAN and Aadhaar details.”
How much will the fee for linking
The government initially allowed free PAN-Aadhaar linking until June 30, 2023. However, a fee is now required. The fee has increased from ₹500 to ₹1,000. This means that if you want to link your PAN with Aadhaar after the deadline, you will need to pay a late fee of ₹1,000.
The Income Tax Department is also helping taxpayers to link PAN and Aadhaar. It has also created an FAQ page to answer questions related to the process of linking PAN with Aadhaar. This helps you understand the entire process.