Over 17cr PAN cards to become inoperative if not linked with Aadhar by March 31

New Delhi: More than 17 crore PAN cards will become inoperative if not linked with the Aadhar by end of March.

In a move with large scale disruption potential, the Income Tax Department has said that Permanent Account Number (PAN) will become inoperative if not linked with Aadhaar by March 31, 2020.

It may be recalled that the deadline for linking of PAN and Aadhar has been extended several times and the latest deadline ends on 31 March 2020.

As per the latest figures, over 30.75 crore PANs have already been linked to Aadhaar. However, 17.58 crore PANs are yet to be linked with the 12-digit biometric ID.

The Supreme Court had in September 2018 declared Aadhaar as constitutionally valid and held that the biometric ID would remain mandatory for the filing of income tax returns and allotment of PAN cards.

"Where a person, who has been allotted the permanent account number as on July 1, 2017, and is required to intimate his Aadhaar number under sub-section (2) of section 139AA, has failed to intimate the same on or before March 31, 2020, the permanent account number of such person shall become inoperative immediately after the said date for the purposes of furnishing, intimating or quoting under the Act," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said.

Through a notification, the CBDT amended Income Tax rules and inserted Rule 114, stipulating the "manner of making permanent account number inoperative".

The notification said that persons whose PANs become inoperative shall be liable for all the consequences under the I-T Act for not furnishing, intimating or quoting the permanent account number.

For those linking PAN with Aadhaar after March 31, 2020, the I-T department said it shall "become operative from the date of intimation of Aadhaar number".

Section 139 AA (2) of the Income Tax Act says that every person having PAN as on July 1, 2017, and eligible to obtain Aadhaar, must intimate his Aadhaar number to the tax authorities.

At first, you need to check if your PAN and Aadhar have already been linked. Most of the people might have done it already but tend to forget about it. If you aren't very sure, go to the income tax website www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in and check it.

A. Online Aadhar PAN Link:

    1. By logging on to the income tax portal:

        -Visit the income tax website www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

        -Select the "Profile setting" page on the tab bar and choose "Link Aadhar.

        -A box will appear with your details.

        -Check and verify the details; you will need to provide your Aadhar number and captcha code and then click the "Link Now" button.

        -After the submission of details, you will get a confirmation in a pop-up message.

        -If you do not receive any message, check your pop-up message setting and unblock it for the website.

    2. Without logging on to the income tax portal:

        -Go to incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in and check the option on the left pane titled "Link Aadhar".

        -When you click on it, you will get a form.

        -Fill the needed details including your PAN, Aadhaar number, name and enter captcha code.

        -Later click on the "Link Aadhaar" button.

        -Once your details are verified with UIDAI on the income tax portal,

        -you will be issued a confirmation saying both cards are linked. And if there is any mistake in the name mentioned on Aadhaar and PAN,

        -you will receive an OTP verifying the same.

        -If there is a mismatch between the PAN and Aadhar data, get it corrected before you link the two cards.

B. Offline Aadhaar PAN Link:

    -If who want to link offline: The income tax department also allows you to link the two cards manually.

    -You can visit the closest PAN service provider, or NSDL or UTIITSL.

    -Get the form 'Annexure-I' and provide copies of your PAN and Aadhaar.

    -In case there is a substantial mismatch between the PAN and Aadhar data, you may have to do biometric authentication.

    -For any correction in the PAN details, you may have to pay Rs 110. If you want to get the Aadhaar details changed, the prescribed fee is Rs 25.

C. Aadhaar-PAN Linking via SMS:

    -If you are unable to link the two number online, you can also do so by using SMS.

    -From your registered mobile number send an SMS to 567678 or 56161.

    -Type in the following message.

    -The format: UIDPAN<12 digit Aadhaar><10 digit PAN>

    -For example, if Aadhaar number is 123412341234 and PAN is ABCDE9999S, then you need to key in UIDPAS 123412341234 ABCDE999S TO 567678 OR 56161.

    -There is no extra fee charged, but SMS charges as levied by the mobile operator will apply.