How to link PAN with Aadhaar? Here is a step by step guide

Under the current laws, it is mandatory to link your PAN with your Aadhaar number. Further, it is mandatory to quote your Aadhaar number at the time of filing income tax return (ITR), applying for new PAN and also to avail monetary benefits from the government such as pension, scholarship, LPG subsidy etc.

Visit the income tax government website to link your Aadhar with PAN.

Step 2:

Click on the “Link Aadhar” tab under the “Our service” section.

Step 3:

You will see a window where you shall fill in your details to link both the cards. After filling in the details, click on the “Link Aadhar” button.

Step 4:

Once you click on the “Link Aadhar” button, you will see a window, where you will have to enter the verification code received on your mobile.

Step 5:

Enter the verification code and click on the “validate” button.

Step 6:

Once you click the validate button, your PAN will be linked to Aadhaar. You can then check the linking status.

Visit the income tax website, and click on the login tab.

Fill in your details to login into the portal.

Step 3:

On the income tax dashboard, under the Link Aadhaar to PAN option, click on the ‘Link’ button.

Step 4:

Fill in the details on the window that appears after clicking on the link button.

After successful linking of your Aadhar with the PAN, a pop up will appear, stating that your request has been sent for validation. Once you see that, you can click on the ‘ Link Aadhar Status’ on the home page to see the status of your update.

Last date to link PAN with Aadhaar is March 31, 2022: Check if yours are linked

Under Section 139AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961, it is mandatory to link PAN with Aadhaar. As per this section, if your PAN is not linked with Aadhaar by a date to be notified by the government then it would be deemed to become inoperative. This would mean that an individual will not be able to conduct transactions wherever quoting of PAN is mandatory. Currently, the last date to link PAN with Aadhaar is March 31, 2022.

Now, if this deadline is missed by an individual, then a fee will be levied under section 234H of the Income-tax Act. This new section was introduced by the government on March 23, 2021, at the time of the passing of the Finance Act, 2021 in the lower house of the Parliament. As per section 234H, if the PAN is linked with Aadhaar after the expiry of the deadline i.e., on or after April 1, 2022, then a fee, which is yet to be prescribed by the government, will be levied. However, the maximum amount will not exceed Rs 1,000.

Therefore, it would be advisable to link the two. If you have done so and want to make sure that the two identity numbers are linked in the income tax department’s database, here is how to do it.

1. Visit www.incometax.gov.in

2. Under the ‘Quick links’ head, click on ‘Link Aadhaar Status’ option.

3. A new page will open on your computer screen. You will be required to enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.

4. After entering the details, click on ‘View Link Aadhaar Status’. A pop-up will appear on your screen confirming whether PAN is linked to Aadhaar or not.

Why is it necessary to link PAN with Aadhaar?
In Budget 2017, the government introduced a new section Section 139AA-in the Income Tax Act. As per Section 139AA, it is mandatory to quote your Aadhaar number while applying for a new PAN and also while filing ITR.

In addition to that, individuals who were already having PAN as on July 1, 2017, and are eligible to obtain Aadhaar, are required to link the two before expiry of a deadline to be set by the government. Post the expiry of the deadline, which is yet to be notified by the government, the PAN allotted to that person would be deemed to be invalid, as per section 139AA.