Linking your PAN card to your Aadhaar card is no longer just a recommendation—it is a mandatory compliance requirement under the Income Tax Act.
Below is a comprehensive guide on how to link your PAN and Aadhaar, the latest deadlines for 2025, and how to check your status.
Latest Deadlines & Penalties (2025 Update)
General Deadline: For most taxpayers, the original deadline was June 30, 2023.
3 If you missed it, you can still link them by paying a late fee of ₹1,000.Special Deadline (Dec 31, 2025): According to the latest CBDT notification, individuals who were allotted a PAN on or before October 1, 2024 (using an Aadhaar enrolment ID) must link their final Aadhaar number by December 31, 2025.
5 Consequences of Non-Linking: If not linked by the deadline, your PAN will become inoperative starting January 1, 2026.
6 This means you cannot file ITRs, receive tax refunds, or conduct high-value banking transactions.7
How to Link PAN and Aadhaar Online (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Pay the Penalty Fee (If Applicable)
If you are linking after the original deadline, you must first pay the ₹1,000 fee via the e-Pay Tax facility.
Visit the
Income Tax e-Filing Portal Click on 'e-Pay Tax' under the Quick Links section.
Enter your PAN and mobile number to receive an OTP.
Select the 'Income Tax' tile and click 'Proceed'.
Critical: Select the current Assessment Year (e.g., 2026-27) and choose 'Other Receipts (500)' as the Type of Payment.
9 Select 'Fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar' and complete the ₹1,000 payment.
Note: It may take 4–5 working days for the payment to reflect in the system before you can proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Submit the Linking Request
Go back to the e-Filing homepage and click 'Link Aadhaar'.
Enter your PAN and Aadhaar Number and click 'Validate'.
Once the payment is verified, enter your Name (exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card) and mobile number.
Click 'Link Aadhaar'.
Enter the 6-digit OTP sent to your phone and click 'Validate'.
How to Check PAN-Aadhaar Link Status
Before you pay any fees, check if your cards are already linked:
Visit the
Link Aadhaar Status Enter your 10-digit PAN and 12-digit Aadhaar number.
Click 'View Link Aadhaar Status'.
A pop-up will confirm if the link is active or pending.
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How to Link via SMS (Offline Method)
If you cannot access the portal, you can use the SMS facility:
Format:
UIDPAN <12-digit Aadhaar> <10-digit PAN>Example:
UIDPAN 123456789012 ABCDE1234FSend to: 567678 or 56161.
Troubleshooting: What if My Details Don’t Match?
If there is a mismatch in your name, date of birth, or gender between the two cards, the linking request will fail.
To update PAN: Visit the
NSDL (Protean) To update Aadhaar: Visit a nearby Aadhaar Seva Kendra or use the
UIDAI Self-Service Portal
Who is Exempt?
Linking is not mandatory for:
NRIs (Non-Resident Indians).
12 Non-citizens of India.
13 Senior citizens (Aged 80+).
14 Residents of Assam, Meghalaya, and Jammu & Kashmir.
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