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Linking your Aadhaar card with your PAN card has been mandatory in India since 2023. Unlinked PANs were made inoperative, which means they can’t be used for financial transactions, filing returns, or KYC. If yours is still unlinked, this guide walks you through the process step by step — both online and offline.
Is Aadhaar-PAN linking still required in 2025?
Yes. The Income Tax Department made Aadhaar-PAN linking mandatory with a deadline of 30 June 2023. PANs not linked by then became inoperative — they cannot be quoted for financial transactions, TDS/TCS is deducted at higher rates, and income tax returns cannot be processed. Reactivation requires paying the penalty and then linking.
How to check if your PAN is linked to Aadhaar
- Go to incometax.gov.in
- Under “Quick Links,” click “Link Aadhaar Status”
- Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number
- The site will tell you whether linking is pending, in progress or complete
How to link Aadhaar with PAN online (step-by-step)
- Pay the penalty first — if your PAN is inoperative, you must pay ₹1,000 via NSDL’s portal or Challan 280 at a bank. Choose “Income Tax” as the type of payment, AY 2024–25, and “Other Receipts (500)”.
- Wait 4–5 days after payment for it to be registered in the tax department’s system.
- Go to incometax.gov.in and click “Link Aadhaar” under Quick Links.
- Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number — you don’t need to log in.
- Enter your name as per Aadhaar and your registered mobile number.
- Click “Link Aadhaar” — an OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
- Enter the OTP — linking request is submitted. Status may show “pending” for a few days while UIDAI validates the details.
Aadhaar-PAN link via SMS
Send an SMS to 567678 or 56161 from your Aadhaar-registered mobile number in this format:
UIDPAN <12-digit Aadhaar> <10-digit PAN>
Example: UIDPAN 123456789012 ABCDE1234F
Common issues and solutions
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Name mismatch between PAN and Aadhaar | Update name in Aadhaar (UIDAI website) or PAN (NSDL/UTI) — match them before attempting to link |
| DOB mismatch | Correct the DOB in either document that has the error — must be identical in both records |
| OTP not received | Ensure your Aadhaar-linked mobile number is active; update it at UIDAI if it has changed |
| Payment not reflecting | Wait 4–5 working days after payment; check BSR code and challan serial number in tax portal |
What happens if PAN remains inoperative?
- TDS and TCS are deducted at double the applicable rate
- You cannot file income tax returns using this PAN
- Financial transactions requiring PAN (opening bank accounts, fixed deposits above ₹50,000, property purchase) are blocked
- Refunds will not be issued on inoperative PANs
Learn more about personal finance in India
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if PAN is not linked to Aadhaar?
The PAN becomes inoperative — you can’t use it for financial transactions, TDS is deducted at double the rate, and you can’t file income tax returns. Pay the ₹1,000 penalty and link immediately.
Is there a fee to link Aadhaar with PAN in 2025?
Yes — ₹1,000 penalty must be paid via Challan 280 if your PAN has already become inoperative (missed the 30 June 2023 deadline). Wait 4–5 days after payment before attempting to link online.
The bottom line
If your PAN is inoperative: pay the ₹1,000 penalty via NSDL/Challan 280, wait 4–5 days, then link on incometax.gov.in. If already linked: verify the status and save a screenshot. Resolve any name/DOB mismatches before attempting to link — these are the most common reason linking fails.