How to apply for PAN (Permanent Account Number)?

It is very easy to apply PAN in India. PAN application process is very simple and available in both online and offline mode. It is also time bound process. Within 15 days, one can get PAN easily.

PAN can be applied by following:

  1. Indian nationals – Form 49A
  2. Foreign nationals – Form 49AA

Income tax dept. has authorised UTISL (UTI Investor Services Limited) and NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited) to provide the services of PAN application processing.

Offline Process: One can visit website (given at the end of post) of these companies and download the form, as applicable, attach ID and address proof as mentioned in the form itself. After that, visit to their one of the centers (centers list available on their website) to submit the form with the fees (which is approx. INR 105 for delivery in India). After 15 days, PAN will be delivered to the address mentioned by you on form.

Online Process: Visit the website of anyone and click on apply online. You need to fill up the form online and need to pay fees online (Currently INR 105 for delivery of PAN in India). Payment modes currently available are Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, Demand Draft and Cheque. Take the print out of the form and attach the ID and address proof as mentioned in the form itself. After that, you need to send this form via courier, speed post, etc. to their office. After 15 days, PAN will be delivered to the address mentioned by you on form

Note: If delivery of PAN card is outside India, fees amount is approx INR 971 in both cases.

NSDL Website
UTISL Website

 

Know Status of Your PAN Card

Applied online using NSDL website or offline NSDL centre
If you have applied for PAN from any of the NSDL centres or website, you can visit following link to check status of your PAN:

https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/pantan/StatusTrack.html

You will get the screen like the one shown below:

Check PAN status online
Check PAN status Online

In the application type, select PAN – New / Change Request. After this, either enter 15 digit Acknowledgement No. (this number is received when you apply for PAN) or Name and DOB. Click submit. You will get the status of your PAN on the screen.

Applied online using UTISL website or offline UTISL centre

If you have applied for PAN from any of the UTISL centres or website, you can visit following link to check status of your PAN:

https://www.myutiitsl.com/PANONLINE/panTracker.do
You will get the screen like the one shown below:

Online PAN Status
Online PAN status

In the application type, select New Application (F49a). After this, enter Coupon No. (this number is received when you apply for PAN). Click submit. You will get the status of your PAN on the screen.

 

Cancellation of PAN

You may feel the need for cancellation/ surrender of PAN in the following conditions:

  1. When you are going outside India to permanent settle there and you do not have any property, Bank A/c, etc whatever may have tax impact, in India. You are also of the view that you will not have any money related dealing in future which will have tax impact in India.
  2. You can apply for surrender/ cancellation of PAN of another person when that person is no more and all the money related settlement has been completed.

In such case, you can write a simple letter to Assessing Officer (AO) giving all the details and reasons for cancellation. If he is satisfied with the reasons, he will proceed with cancellation of PAN. However, it is very difficult to get the PAN cancelled/ surrendered. It entirely depends on the AO.

 

Changes / Correction in PAN or Reprint of PAN

PAN correction normally required because of the following two reasons:

  1. Change is the information given by you while applying PAN. For example, a person has shifted from one house to another house which results in change in address.
  2. Error in printing of PAN. This normally happens when one apply for PAN offline. When someone apply offline, officials at PAN centres entering the information in the software may read the some words incorrectly and therefore results in error.

For this, you need to fill up this form.

Besides the above reason, same form can be used for the following purposes. This is called reprint of PAN card.

  1. In case you have lost your PAN card, you can apply for the same PAN card again without any change in information.
  2. You may need new PAN card as old PAN card is damaged. This happens due to wear and tear.
  3. You have not received your PAN card.
  4. You just want new PAN card.

Procedure

Procedure is almost same as in the case of application for new PAN card.

Offline Process: One can download this form, attach ID and address proof as mentioned in the form itself. After that, visit to one of the centers of NSDL to submit the form with the fees (which is approx. INR 105 currently for delivery in India). After 15 days, PAN will be delivered to the address mentioned by you on form.

Online Process: Visit the NSDL/ UTISL website and click on apply online. You need to fill up the form online and need to pay fees online (Currently INR 105 for delivery of PAN in India). Payment modes currently available are Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, Demand Draft and Cheque. Take the print out of the form and attach the ID and address proof as mentioned in the form itself. After that, you need to send this form via courier, speed post, etc. to their office. After 15 days, PAN will be delivered to the address mentioned by you on form

Note: If delivery of PAN card is outside India, fees amount is approx INR 971 in both cases as on date.

How to Fill up Form

In the form, one click box is given on left hand side for every column.

For Changes or Correction – While filling up form for change or correct, click only that box for which you want the information to be updated. Do not click any other box. But you need to fill up the complete form.

For Reprint of PAN – In case you are filling up form for reprinting of PAN, do not click any box. Just fill up the complete form and submit.

 

What if more than one PAN allotted to you?

 

One person can have one and only one PAN. Sometimes it happens that you are allotted more than PAN card inadvertently. In such a case, you may be asked to pay penalty of INR 10,000 as holding more than one PAN is an offense. If you receive legal notice from IT department, you will have to pay INR 10,000 as penalty.

Due to following reasons, one can have more than one PAN:

  1. After moving to different house, that person has applied for new PAN.
  2. One person has applied for PAN multiple times and every time, new PAN no. is generated.

What to do if you have more than one PAN

Online Process:

  1. If you are allotted more than one PAN, visit http://incometax.sparshindia.com/pan/newPAN.asp and fill up the required details for cancellation or surrender of PAN. OR
  2. Fill up the PAN Change request form and mentioned the PAN to be cancelled in item no. 11 (All other PAN/s inadvertently allotted to you).

Offline Process:

Write a letter to NSDL-TIN or UTI-PAN informing about the more than one PAN and submit the application to their centre. Please include all the relevant information while writing the letter.

 

** Please check the NSDL / UTISL website for updated application fees and PAN card forms.