Government again warned, urgent information for all PAN card holders

If you have not linked Aadhaar card and PAN card yet, then soon your PAN card will be blocked. Yes, before March 31, all PAN holders who are not in the “exempted category” have to link their PAN card with Aadhaar; Failure to do so will make your PAN card “inoperative” from April 1.Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT:) advised, “Don’t delay, do it today!”

An advisory by the Income Tax Department states that “As per the Income Tax Act, 1961, it is mandatory for all PAN holders who do not fall in the exempted category to link their PAN with Aadhaar before 31.03.2023. With effect from 1.04.2023, the unlinked PAN shall become inoperative.”

In fact, persons residing in the states of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya are included in the “exempted category”, according to a notification issued by the Union Finance Ministry in May 2017;being a non-resident as defined by the Income Tax Act of 1961;To be at least 80 years of age at any time in the previous year and not to be an Indian citizen.

Here’s what can happen if your PAN becomes inoperative:-

The individual would be unable to use an inoperative PAN to file IT returns; Returns that are pending will not be processed; Inoperative PAN will not get any pending refund; Once the PAN ceases to function, it will be impossible to complete pending proceedings, such as in respect of incorrect returns; And a higher rate of tax deduction would be applied.

Steps to link your PAN-Aadhaar through the portal:

Step 1:Visit the official website of Income Tax e-filing- eportal.incometax.gov.in or incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.

Step 2:Register yourself if you have not already registered on the portal.Here your user ID will be PAN number.

Step 3:Log in to the portal by entering your User ID, Password and Date of Birth.

Step 4:A pop-up window will appear, asking you to link your PAN with Aadhaar.

Step 5:If the window is not visible, go to ‘Profile Settings’ on the menu bar and click on the link Aadhaar.

Step 6:Information like name, date of birth and gender will already be mentioned as per your PAN card details.

Step 7:Verify the PAN details on the screen with the details mentioned on Aadhaar.

Step 8:If there is any mismatch, you need to correct it in any document.

Step 9:If the details match, enter your Aadhaar number and click on the Link Now button.

Step 10:A pop-up message will inform you that your Aadhaar has been successfully linked with your PAN.

You can also link your PAN by visiting the nearest PAN service center:

The linking process can also be done manually by visiting the nearest PAN service center. A form named ‘Annexure-I’ has to be filled and submitted along with a copy of PAN Card and Aadhaar Card. This will be a paid service.