A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It is mandatory for anyone earning a taxable income, running a business, or making major financial transactions. Applying for it is straightforward — but only if you have the right documents.
Who Needs a PAN Card?
- Any individual with a taxable income
- Business owners, traders, and professionals
- Anyone buying or selling property above ₹10 lakh
- Anyone opening a bank account or investing in mutual funds
- Foreign nationals conducting business in India
- Minors (for investments under guardians)
📌 Important: Quoting a wrong or invalid PAN can attract a penalty of ₹10,000 under Section 272B of the Income Tax Act. Always verify your PAN details carefully.
Documents Required — Individuals (Indian Citizens)
| Document Type | Accepted Documents |
|---|---|
| Proof of Identity | Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License, Ration Card with photo |
| Proof of Address | Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, Bank Statement (last 3 months), Utility Bill (last 3 months) |
| Proof of Date of Birth | Birth Certificate, Class 10 Marksheet, Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID |
| Photograph | 2 recent passport-size colour photographs (white background) |
Documents Required — Business Entities
| Entity Type | Documents Required |
|---|---|
| Proprietorship | Owner's PAN, Aadhaar, registration certificate |
| Partnership Firm | Partnership deed + partner identity proofs |
| Private Limited Company | Certificate of Incorporation from MCA |
| Trust / NGO | Trust deed or registration certificate |
| HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) | HUF deed + Karta's identity proof |
Step-by-Step Online Application Process
- Visit the official portal — Go to incometax.gov.in or apply through NSDL (onlineservices.nsdl.com) or UTIITSL (pan.utiitsl.com).
- Select application type — Choose "New PAN – Indian Citizen (Form 49A)" for individuals, or "New PAN – Foreign Citizen (Form 49AA)" for foreign nationals.
- Fill the form — Enter your personal details: full name (as in Aadhaar), date of birth, father's name, and contact details.
- Upload documents — Upload scanned copies of identity proof, address proof, date of birth proof, and your photograph. Each file must be under 300 KB in JPEG format.
- Pay the fee — ₹107 for Indian address delivery (including GST) or ₹1,017 for international delivery. Pay via UPI, net banking, or card.
- Submit and note acknowledgement — After submission, you'll receive a 15-digit acknowledgement number. Keep it for tracking.
- Receive your PAN — You'll get your PAN card at your registered address via post. You can also download e-PAN immediately for ₹8.26 after verification.
PAN Card Application Fees
- Physical PAN card (Indian address): ₹107 (inclusive of GST)
- Physical PAN card (foreign address): ₹1,017
- e-PAN only (downloaded PDF): ₹66 (inclusive of GST)
Processing Time
- e-PAN: Issued within 10–15 minutes if Aadhaar OTP verification is done
- Physical PAN card: 15–20 working days after successful verification
- Corrections / reprint: 7–10 working days
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Name mismatch between form and Aadhaar/documents
- Incorrect date of birth entry
- Not mentioning father's name exactly as in official documents
- Blurred or invalid photograph upload
- Applying for duplicate PAN (having two PANs is a legal offence)
🔁 Already have a PAN? If you need to correct details (name, DOB, address), use the "Correction in PAN Data" option on the same portal. Do not apply for a new PAN.
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