PAN Card
PAN or Permanent Account Number is a unique 10 digit alphanumeric code which is issued to the applicants by the Income Tax Department of the Government of India. The number is unique to the applicants. It is an important detail which is required for filing income tax returns, opening of bank account and other financial investments.
PAN card constitutes the identity details of the individual along with this unique number. It is issued under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
PAN card can be availed by individuals, students, minors and even Non-Resident Indians. Companies and firms too can avail the PAN card for the purpose of filing their income tax returns.
Applying for the Pan Card
PAN card can be applied both online and offline.
To apply for a PAN card online, follow the below-given steps:
Step 1: Go to the NSDL or UTIITSL website.
Step 2: From the home page, select ‘New PAN’.
Step 3: Select PAN Card Form 49A for Indian Citizens, NRE/NRI or OCI Individuals.
Step 4: Fill the form with all the details of the individual.
Step 5: To initiate the processing of the form, pay a small processing fee either online or through Demand Draft.
Step 6: Once done with payment and submission of the form, you will receive a 15-digit acknowledgement number.
Step 7: Courier this acknowledgement form to the NSDL PAN office within 15 days of online submission of Form 49A along with the concerned documents.
Step 8: After sending the form, PAN will be verified and the card generated. The PAN card will be sent to the applicant at the address which is mentioned in the form within 15 days.
To apply for a PAN card through offline mode, follow the below-given steps:
- Collect the PAN card application form from UTIISL agent or download it from the NSDL or UTIISL websites.
- Fill all the details in the form. Attach the photograph, identity proof and address proof along with the form.
- Submit the duly filled form along with the documents at the NSDL office. Also, pay the processing fee.
- The authorities will send the PAN card at the address mentioned in the form within 15 working days.
Pan Card Forms
49A: This form needs to be filled by Indian individuals/entities. Minors and students are also required to fill in this form.
49AA: This form needs to be filled by foreigners for applying for PAN card.
Documents Required for Pan Card
Some documents are required to be submitted along with the PAN Card application form. These documents depend on the applicants.
For an individual applicant:
- Identity Proof: Any of the following documents can be submitted for the same:
- Any govt. issued ID – Aadhar, DL, Voter ID, etc.
- Arm’s License
- Pensioner Card which contains the applicant’s photograph
- A photo ID card which is issued by Central Government, State Government or a Public Sector Undertaking
- Central Government’s Health Scheme Card or Ex-Servicemen’s Contributory Health Scheme Photo Card
- An original bank certificate- It must contain an attested photograph of the applicant with the bank account number and should be issued on the bank’s letterhead from the branch of the bank and attested by the issuing officer.
- An address proof: Any of the following documents can be submitted for the same:
- Electricity, landline or broadband connection bill
- Post-paid mobile phone bill
- Water bill
- LPG or piped gas connection bill or Gas Connection book
- Bank account statement
- Credit card statement
- Deposit account statement
- Post Office account Passbook
- Passport
- Voter’s ID Card
- Driving License
- Property registration document
- Domicile certificate issued by the Indian Government
- Aadhar Card
Original certificate from the employer-provided that the employer is a reputed public or private corporation
- Date of birth proof: Any of the following documents can be submitted for the same:
- The birth certificate which is issued by the Municipal Authority or any authorized authority
- Matriculation certificate
- Pension Payment order
- Passport
- Marriage certificate issued by Registrar of Marriages
- Driving license
- Domicile certificate issued by the Indian Government
- An affidavit which is sworn before a magistrate stating the applicant’s date of birth
For a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
- An affidavit issued by the Karta of the HUF stating the name, address and the father’s name of every coparcener as on the date on which the application is made.
- Identity proof, address proof and date of birth proof as in case of an individual for the Karta of the HUF.
For a company registered in India
- A copy of the Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Companies.
For firms and Limited Liability Partnerships formed or registered in India
- A copy of the Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Firms or Limited Liability Partnerships.
- A copy of the Partnership Deed.
For Trust formed or registered in India
- Copy of Trust Deed or a copy of the Certificate of Registration Number issued by a Charity Commissioner.
For an Association of Persons
- Copy of Agreement/Certificate of Registration Number from Registrar of Co-operative Society or Charity Commissioner or other competent authority or any document issued by the Central/State Government which shows identity and address of the applicant.
For individuals who are not Indian Citizens
- Identity proof: Any of the following documents can be submitted for the same:
- Passport copy
- Copy of PIO card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of OCI Card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of other national or citizenship Identification Number or TIN attested by applicable ‘Apostille’, Indian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate where the applicant is based.
- Address proof: Any of the following documents can be submitted for the same:
- Passport copy
- Copy of PIO card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of OCI Card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of other national or citizenship Identification Number or TIN attested by relevant ‘Apostille’, Indian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate
- Copy of bank statement of the residential country
- Copy of NRE bank statement in India
- Copy of resident certificate or Residential permit
Copy of registration certificate issued by FRO
- Copy of VISA granted along with the appointment letter from an Indian company
Applying for Duplicate Pan Card
One can apply for a duplicate PAN card both online or offline. Follow the below steps to do it:
- Visit TIN-NSDL or UTIITSL website. Apply for a duplicate copy of your PAN card.
- In the case of Indian citizens, fill in form 49A. In the case of foreigners, fill in form 49-AA.
- Pay the processing charges online or get a demand draft made.
- Take a print out of the form and sent it at the below address.
Income Tax PAN Services Unit,
NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited,
5th Floor, Mantri Sterling,
Plot No. 341, Survey No. 997/8, Model Colony,
Near Deep Bungalow Chowk,
Pune – 411 016
- The duplicated PAN card will be sent to you within the next 45 days.
Types of Pan Card
- Pan Card For Individuals
To apply for this PAN card, the individuals need to fill Form 49A which is available online on NSDL and UTIITSL websites. It can be applied by Indian residing in the country including the students and minors.
- PAN CARD FOR NON-RESIDENT INDIVIDUALS OR PERSONS OF INDIAN ORIGIN
To apply for this PAN card, the NRIs and PIOs need to submit the duly filled form 49A.
- PAN CARD FOR FOREIGN ENTITIES PAYING TAX IN INDIA
PAN card can also be availed by those firms and corporate houses whose business operations are conducted in India but are registered outside the country. For the purpose of paying tax in India, they need a PAN card which they can apply for by filling Form 49AA.
- PAN CARD FOR OCI AND NRE
Overseas citizens of India and Non-Resident Entities can apply for the PAN card by filling the Form 49AA.
- PAN CARD FOR INDIAN COMPANIES
For financial transactions, the firms and corporate entities registered and working in India also required a PAN card.
Structure of Pan Card
A PAN card is a key document which acts as an identity proof and age proof. The following details are present in the PAN card:
- Name of the cardholder– The foremost detail on the PAN card is the name of the cardholder. For individuals, the name of the individuals is there. For the company, the registered name of the company is written whereas, for a partnership firm, the name of the firm is mentioned.
- Father’s name of the cardholder– It is applicable for individual applicants only. It is mentioned right beneath the name of the individual.
- Date of birth– Individual’s date of birth is mentioned beneath the father’s name and hence the PAN card acts as DOB proof for the individual. For companies and partnership firms, their date of registration is mentioned in place of Date of birth.
- PAN Number– The most important aspect of the PAN card is the 10 digits unique alphanumeric number wherein each character upholds some key information. Such information is as follows:
First three letters– These constitute any three letters of the alphabet from A to Z.
Fourth letter –It represents the category of the taxpayer the entity is. The various entities and their respective characters are as follows:
A – Association of Persons
B – Body of Individuals
C – Company
F – Firms
G – Government
H – Hindu Undivided Family
L – Local Authority
J – Artificial Judicial Person
P – Individual
T – Association of Persons for a Trust
Fifth letter– It is the first letter of the individual’s surname
Remaining letters– the remaining five characters are random wherein the first four characters are numeric while the last character is an alphabet.
- Signature of the individual–PAN card also upholds the signature of the individual. It thereby acts as proof of the individual’s signature.
- Photograph of the individual –The lower right-hand side of the PAN Card consists of the photograph of the cardholder. It thus makes it as a photo identity proof of the individual. However, there is no photograph present on the card in case of companies and firms.
Advantages of PAN Card
- For filing tax returns – PAN number is mandatory for filling of tax returns by individuals and entities (companies, partnership firms, HUFs, etc.). A flat tax of 30% needs to be paid on the earnings irrespective of the income tax bracket if one doesn’t hold a PAN card.
- Registration of business – A PAN card is required to register one’s business by entities like companies, partnership firms, Hindu Undivided Families or other entities.
- For conducting financial transactions – PAN card is a mandatory document required for financial transactions.
- For availing utility connections – PAN card is required to avail utilities like a postpaid mobile phone connection, LPG connection, electricity connection, internet connection, etc.
- For opening a bank account – PAN card is now a primary requirement for opening a bank account.
Why is Pan Card an Important Document?
A PAN Card is one very important document nowadays. Without it,
- It is not possible to make financial transactions over Rs. 50000.
- You cannot buy or sell any of your asset/property.
- You won’t be able to file ITR.
- You won’t be able to apply for a credit card or a loan.
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