Aadhaar–PAN Link
Who must link, how to link, the ₹1,000 fee, exemptions and what an inoperative PAN means.
Key facts
- Every individual who had a PAN on 1 July 2017 and is eligible for Aadhaar must link the two. The general deadline was 30 June 2023; after that the PAN became inoperative until linked.
- PANs allotted using an Aadhaar enrolment ID (up to 1 October 2024) had to be linked by 31 December 2025, or become inoperative from 1 January 2026.
- Linking now needs a fee of ₹1,000, paid on the income tax e-filing portal's e-Pay Tax service before submitting the link request.
- Not required for: residents of Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and Meghalaya; non-residents; individuals aged 80 or more; and people who are not Indian citizens.
- An inoperative PAN means no refunds (and no interest on them), TDS and TCS at higher rates, and trouble with bank, investment and other PAN-based transactions.
- After paying the fee and linking, the PAN normally becomes operative again within about 30 days.
- Name, date of birth and gender must match in both. Fix PAN details through Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL, and Aadhaar details through UIDAI. If names still don't match, biometric authentication at a PAN service centre is available.
Common questions
How do I link Aadhaar with PAN?
- On the income tax e-filing portal, open e-Pay Tax and pay the ₹1,000 fee (choose 'Other Receipts (500)' under Income Tax). 2) Wait 4–5 working days for the payment to reflect. 3) Use the Link Aadhaar quick link on the portal home page, enter PAN and Aadhaar, verify with the OTP on your Aadhaar mobile and submit. 4) Check it under Link Aadhaar Status.
How do I check whether my PAN is linked with Aadhaar?
On the income tax e-filing portal home page, click Link Aadhaar Status, enter PAN and Aadhaar, and view the result. No login is needed.
What is the fee to link PAN and Aadhaar?
₹1,000, paid through e-Pay Tax on the e-filing portal before submitting the link request. It is the same whether the PAN is already inoperative or not.
What happens if PAN is not linked with Aadhaar?
The PAN becomes inoperative: no income tax refunds or interest on them, TDS and TCS at higher rates (often 20%), and banks, brokers and mutual funds may block PAN-based transactions until it is fixed.
Who does not need to link Aadhaar with PAN?
Residents of Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and Meghalaya; non-residents under the Income-tax Act; people aged 80 or above during the year; and those who are not citizens of India. If they already have Aadhaar, linking is still allowed.
My PAN is inoperative. What should I do?
Pay the ₹1,000 fee through e-Pay Tax on the income tax portal, then link Aadhaar using the Link Aadhaar option. The PAN usually becomes operative again in about 30 days. If you are exempt (NRI, 80+, Assam/J&K/Meghalaya resident), update your status instead of paying.
How long does it take for an inoperative PAN to become active?
Usually about 30 days after the fee is paid and the Aadhaar is linked successfully.
What if my name is different in PAN and Aadhaar?
The link fails. Correct the name, date of birth or gender in PAN (through Protean or UTIITSL) or in Aadhaar (through UIDAI), then try again. For small name differences, biometric authentication at a PAN service centre can be used.
Does an NRI need to link PAN and Aadhaar?
No, non-residents are exempt. But if the NRI status isn't updated with the department, the PAN can still show as inoperative; update residential status on the portal or through the assessing officer.