Aadhaar linking becomes mandatory for new PAN applications in India

New Delhi: According to the officials, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) will mandate Aadhaar authentication for obtaining a new Permanent Account Number (PAN), from July 1.

A senior officer said that the new Aadhaar-based verification is in relation to the digitalisation drive and to ensure accountable tax filing.

Currently, an application for a PAN can be made using name, other identification proof or birth certificate. Existing PAN owners are also asked to link the card with Aadhaar.

For existing PAN card holders, the last date to link Aadhaar with PAN is December 31, 2025, without penalty. PAN not linked with Aadhaar will become inoperative from next year. The income-tax portal will activate the new requirement for applications from July.

The authorities had made Aadhaar linkage mandatory after detecting the issuance of multiple PANs to a single individual or the use of PANs registered in the names of others to evade tax.

In some cases, multiple PANs were used for fake goods and services tax registration.