How to link Aadhaar with PAN: A step by step guide for you

KEY STORY

• The deadline to link PAN with Aadhaar card is fast approaching. The last date for linking Aadhaar card with PAN card is March 31. Aadhaar-PAN linking deadline has been extended several times in the past and some people have presumed that there will be an extension in Aadhaar PAN linking deadline again.

• However, In the Finance Bill, 2021, passed by the Lok Sabha this week, the government has introduced an amendment under which a person will be liable to pay a late fee in case of non-linking of PAN with Aadhaar.

• As per the new section inserted in the Finance Bill, failing to carry out PAN Aadhaar seeding by the given deadline will incur late fee up to Rs 1,000.

• This late fee will be exclusive from other penalties for holding an inoperative PAN Card. The Finance Bill (Lok Sabha) has inserted a new Section 234H to levy a fee for default in intimating the Aadhaar number.

• If a person is required to intimate his Aadhaar under Section 139AA(2) and such person fails to do so, they will be liable to pay a fee, as may be prescribed, not exceeding Rs 1,000 at the time of making such intimation, said the bill

  If you have still not linked PAN with Aadhaar, here is a step-by-step guide for you:

  1. Through e-Filing website

  1. Visit Income Tax Site

  2. Enter the PAN, Aadhaar number, and name as mentioned in the Aadhaar card

  3. Tick the square if only the birth year is mentioned in the Aadhaar card

  4. Enter the Captcha code. (Visually challenged users can request for an OTP instead of the captcha code. The OTP will be sent on the registered mobile number)

  5. Click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button.

  Note that citizens can simply link their PAN-Aadhaar cards on the websites of Income Tax department, NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited, and UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITL) by providing their PAN card number and Aadhaar number.

  2. PAN-Aadhaar link SMS:

• In order to link PAN-Aadhaar through SMS, send an SMS to 567678 or 56161 from your registered mobile number in the format- UIDPAN<SPACE><12 Digit Aadhaar Number><SPACE><10 Digit PAN>. For instance, UIDPAN 123456789000 EPOPE1234E. There is no charge being levied on the SMS sender by NSDL or UTI. They have to pay the SMS charges being levied by the mobile operator company.

  How to check PAN-Aadhaar link status:

  • Visit www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/aadhaarstatus

  • Enter PAN and Aadhaar Number

  • Click on ‘View Link Aadhaar Status’

  • The status of the linking is displayed in the next screen

• Remember that the Income Tax Department has already made it clear that failing to do Aadhaar PAN linking by 31st March 2021 will lead to one’s PAN Card becoming inoperative.

• The department has also said that inoperative PAN card holders will have to face consequences under the Income Tax Act for not furnishing PAN with the income tax department.

• In other words, such PAN card holders will not only be treated as non-PAN card holders but may also be fined a penalty of Rs 10,000 under Section 272B of the Income Tax Act.

• It is also worth remembering that Having a PAN card is mandatory for several purposes like opening a bank account, buying mutual funds or shares and even making cash transactions of over Rs 50,000. However, all such inoperative PAN cards will become operative as and when the PAN card holder carries out PAN Aadhaar linking.

  In case where one’s PAN is not linked with Aadhaar number, if they go to a bank and try to open an account or deposit/withdraw cash above Rs 50,000, they need to give your PAN card. If you give a wrong or inoperative PAN then you could be fined up to Rs 10,000. Under the provisions, a penalty could be imposed for every such non-compliance due to an inoperative PAN Card.