PAN or Permanent Account Number is a 10-digit alpha-numeric character issued by the Income Tax Department of India. PAN is used by the Income Tax Department to track and manage all the Income Tax assesses in India.

It is mandatory to quote PAN all Income Tax filing with the Income Tax Department. Further, it is important to quote PAN in all documents pertaining to financial transactions that involve the sale and purchase of immovable property or motor vehicle exceeding Rs. 25,000/- Also it is mandatory to mention PAN while obtaining telephone or cellular connection. Likewise, PAN is required while making a bank deposit of Rs. 50,000/- or more. Therefore, it is important for most Indian Nationals or Indian Residents to have PAN.

Any person (including Indian Nationals and Foreign Nationals) or artificial entities like Companies, LLP, Trust, Society, etc., can obtain a PAN.

No, there is no minimum age or income requirement for obtaining PAN. Any person can apply and obtain a PAN.

You can apply for PAN by filling up Application for Allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN application form). The forms are: –
– Form 49A (for Indian Citizens)
– Form 49AA (for Foreign Citizens)
PAN card application can be made online through NSDL web-site or any of the NSDL TIN-Facilitation Centres/ PAN Centres.

You will receive an acknowledgment with a unique 15-digit acknowledgment number on submission of the PAN application form.

i) You can inquire the status of your application by accessing NSDL-TIN website at the “Status track” option and quoting your unique 15-digit acknowledgement number after three days of your application.
ii) You can also obtain status of your application through SMS (Short messaging service) using mobile phones. For this, you have to type the word “NSDLPAN” followed by your 15-digit acknowledgement number and send it to 57575. For example: SMS NSDLPAN 012345678901234 to 57575.
iii) You can also check the status of your application through Interactive Voice Response (IVR) by calling our call centre on 020-27218080.

Yes. ‘Individual’ applicants should affix two recent colour photographs with white background (size 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm) in the space provided on the form. The photographs should not be stapled or clipped to the form. The applicant should sign across the photograph affixed on the left side of the form in such a manner that portion of signature is on photo as well as on form. The clarity of image on PAN card will depend on the quality and clarity of photograph affixed on the form.

In such cases, Left Hand Thumb Impression (preferably in black ink) of the applicant should be taken on PAN application form at the place meant for signature. This should be attested by a Magistrate or a Notary Public or a Gazetted Officer, under official seal and stamp.

Yes. Individual applicants including Female applicants (irrespective of their marital status), should write only father’s name in the PAN application form.
However, if an applicant is having only mother as a single parent and wishes to apply for PAN by furnishing the name of mother only, then applicant has to mandatorily tick the relevant box in the application form and mention only mother’s name in the Mother’s Name field. Also, applicant should tick the box for printing mother’s name on the PAN card. Thus, in such a case, father’s name should not be filled in the application form.

It is mandatory for the applicants to mention either their “Telephone number” or valid “e-mail ID” so that they can be contacted in case of any discrepancy in the application and/or for receiving PAN through e-mail –
– If landline telephone number is mentioned, it is necessary to mention country code (ISD code) and STD code. In case of mobile number, country code (ISD code) should be mentioned.
– If email ID is mentioned, PAN will be communicated on email ID after it is allotted by the Income Tax Department.

No, it is not mandatory to pay Income Tax if you have a PAN. Income Tax will have to be paid only if there is taxable income.

Yes, every business established in India must apply for PAN card online or offline within the 30 days of establishment. However, sole proprietorship firm does not need so as it does not have a separate identity from its owner.

The Permanent Account Number, once allotted, comes with lifetime validity for individuals and business entities. If the businesses entities are dissolved or closed, it must surrender the allotted PAN.

You have to submit the following documents with the PAN application form:
– Proof of identity (POI)
– Proof of address (POA)
– Proof of date of birth (PODB) (applicable only for Individual & HUF status of applicant.) (POA)
The documents for POI and POA depend on the citizenship and the status of the applicant.

A Person cannot hold more than one PAN card. If a person holds more than one PAN, a penalty of Rs. 10,000/- may be imposed under section 272B. Therefore, the person holding more than one PAN must surrender it immediately.

You may fill and submit PAN Change Request application form by mentioning the PAN which you are using currently on top of the form. All other PAN/s inadvertently allotted to you should be mentioned at item no. 11 of the form and the corresponding PAN card copy/s should be submitted for cancellation along with the form.

Proprietorships cannot have a separate PAN Card. The PAN of the Proprietor will serve as the PAN of the Proprietorship business.

PAN can be obtained for other entities after incorporation or registration. For instance, PAN can be obtained for Company or LLP after the Certificate of Incorporation is issued.

PAN Card can be obtained in 5-8 working days from date of application along with the required documents.