Need to update/correct details in PAN card? Here's the procedure
Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a unique, 10-digit alphanumeric identity allotted to all taxpayers in India by the Income Tax department. It is essential for undergoing various financial transactions such as receiving taxable salaries/professional fees, sale or purchase of assets, trading of mutual funds, etc. It also serves as an important identity proof. Here is how you can update/correct details in your PAN card.
Documents needed to make changes in your PAN card, online, are: 1) A proof of identity such as Aadhaar card/Ration card/Passport, 2) One proof of address, such as DL/Voter's ID card/Passport, and 3) A DoB proof such as Matriculation certificate/Birth Certificate/Aadhaar card/Passport, etc.
To update your PAN online, follow these steps: First off, log on to the official online PAN application portal. Under the 'Application Type' drop down menu, click on 'Changes or correction in existing PAN data' link. Select the relevant 'Category.' Following this, enter all the necessary details, upload required documents, make payment, and you are done.
Although your PAN card does not feature your residential address, it might be helpful to keep the same updated. To update/change your PAN card address, get Form 49A, fill it up, attach necessary documents, and submit at your nearest NSDL TIN-facilitation center or PAN center.
Meanwhile, the Central government has now made PAN and Aadhaar cards interchangeable. This implies that you can now quote your Aadhaar number instead of PAN, to file Income Tax returns. Further, Aadhaar can also be used for other services where quoting of PAN is necessary, such as buying/selling MF etc. Note: August 31, 2019 is the last date to file ITR for FY 2018-19.
Notably, the government is planning to temporarily invalidate all PAN cards that are not linked with Aadhaar, latest by September 30, 2019. This is so because the government believes that even if after so many extensions, your PAN is not yet linked with Aadhaar, its authenticity is questionable. Simply put, the government is skeptic that your PAN might be fake.
To link Adhaar with PAN online, log on to the Income Tax e-portal. Next, under the 'Quick Links' section, click on 'Link Aadhaar.' Enter details such as Aadhaar number, PAN, name, and Captcha code. Submit the details, click on 'Link Aadhaar', and you're done. After successful verification from UIDAI, the linkage will be confirmed. You can also link your PAN with Aadhaar via SMS.
Apart from the online method, users can also link their Aadhaar with PAN, using SMS service. To do so, type a text message in this format: UIDPAN (space) 12-digit Aadhaar number (space) 10-digit PAN, and send to 567678 or 56161 from your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
