Pan Card

Know your PAN Card Number. It is an important document that contains your essential financial information and details. If you do not know the PAN card details, you may get into serious trouble for non-compliance with taxation or financial reporting obligations. You can easily find your PAN card number by using PAN number search websites. Almost every financial institution or State Government department has online facilities to look up PAN card number details.

What is a PAN Card and Who Can Avail from It?

PAN Card is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identification number issued to all the taxpayers in India. Introducing the PAN card was primarily intended to curb tax evasion by the entities registered under the Income Tax Act, 1961, and non-resident Indians (NRIs) who are either working or living in India. Not just individuals, a number of other entities can also avail of a PAN. As per the income tax act in India, it is mandatory for all entities that earn income from any source to pay taxes on their earnings. Any person who either resides in India or has a source of income in India can apply for a PAN card. 

How Can You Apply for a PAN Card – Offline and Online

One can apply online for a PAN card through the online pan card application process. Alternatively, the offline mode of the PAN card application may also be used.

Following are the steps that you can follow to apply online for a PAN card: 

• First, visit the relevant website of NSDL or UTIITSL.
• Go to the Home Page and select the “ New Pan” option 
• PAN Card Form 49A should be selected for individuals whether they are Indian Citizens, NRE/NRI, or OCI Individuals.
• Fill in the form with the details of the applicant 
• Then the applicant will need to pay the processing fee online or via submitting a Demand Draft after initiating the processing of the form 
• The applicant will be provided with a  15-digit acknowledgment number on the final page, generated after submitting the fees and filled out PAN Form 49A 
• The acknowledgment form should be sent to the NSDL PAN office by courier within 15 days of online submission of Form 49A along with the concerned documents.
• The physical PAN card will be sent to the customer’s address as mentioned in the form within a period of 15 days after the acknowledgment form is couriered to the NSDL office, PAN no. verification is done and the Card is generated after the NSDL PAN verification

Follow the below-mentioned steps to apply for a PAN card Offline: 

You can also apply for the PAN Card offline at any district-level PAN agency.

• The applicant would be required to download the PAN card application form from the website of NSDL or UTIISL or collect a copy from UTIISL agents.
• Attach the supporting document along with  the filled out form (proof of identity, address, and photographs)
• Submit the form and documents to the NSDL office along with the processing fee.
• The PAN card will be sent to the address mentioned in the form within 15 working days.

What are PAN Card forms? 

In India, the PAN-Permanent Account Number Card was conceived and established to deal with the issues associated with dual taxation that was rampant in those days. But this system also became a tool for combatting the circulation of black money and corruption. To apply for a PAN card, one can fill out form 49A or 49AA. Form 49A is used by Indian individuals/entities whereas form 49A is used by foreigners. Form 6251 is also used to apply for a new PAN in case the taxpayer has lost the original PAN card.

What are the Required Documents for a PAN Card Application? 

Since the PAN (Permanent Account Number) card is mandatory for doing a number of transactions, applying for a PAN Card is very common. A person can apply for his own PAN Card or on behalf of any other person by submitting an application form or through an online registration process. Before applying for a PAN card, knowing about the required documents for a PAN card application is important. The documents required for obtaining a PAN Card vary greatly depending on the applicant and the transaction he wants to undergo involving the PAN card. 

Documents required for an individual’s application: 

Identity Card (Any one)

Aadhaar Card, Driving Licence, Voter ID, etc. 

• Pensioner Card with a photograph of the applicant
• A  Central Government or State Government issued, or a Public Sector Undertaking photo ID card 
• Central Government’s Health Scheme Card or Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme Photo Card
• An original bank certificate issued on the bank’s letterhead from the branch of the bank should be attested by the issuing officer. The certificate should contain an attested photograph and the bank account number of the applicant. 

Address Proof ( can be a copy of any of the below-mentioned documents) 

• Electricity, landline, or broadband connection  bill
• Postpaid mobile phone bill
• Water bill
• LPG Gas Connection book
• Bank account statement
• Credit card statement
• Deposit account statement
• Post Office account Passbook
• Passport
• Voter’s ID Card
• Driving Licence
• Property registration document
• Domicile certificate issued by the Indian Government
• Aadhar Card

Date of birth proof ( can be a copy of any one of the following)

• Municipal Authority or any authorized authority issued Birth certificate 
• Matriculation certificate
• Pension Payment order
• Passport
• Registrar of Marriages issued Marriage certificate
• Driving license
• Indian Government issued Domicile certificate
• An affidavit stating the applicant’s date of birth sworn before a magistrate 

For a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)

• A Karta of the HUF issued an affidavit mentioning the name, address, and the father’s name of every coparcener as on the date on which the application is made.
• Identity proof, address proof, and date of birth proof 

For a company registered in India

• A  Registrar of Companies issued copy of the Certificate of Registration 

For firms, Limited Liability Partnerships and Trust formed or registered in India

• A copy of the Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Firms or Limited Liability Partnerships or Charity Commissioner (in case of Trust formed)
• A copy of the Partnership Deed or Trust Deed (in case of Trusts formed).

For People who are not Indian Citizens:

Proof of identity (can be any one of the following)

• Passport copy
• Copy of  Indian Government issued PIO card 
• Copy of Indian Government issued OCI Card  
• Copy of other citizenship Identification Number or TIN attested by applicable ‘Apostille’, Indian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate where the applicant is residing.

Address proof (can be any one of the following)

• Passport copy
• Copy of  Indian Government issued PIO card 
• Copy of  Indian Government issued OCI Card 
• Copy of other citizenship Identification Number or TIN attested by relevant  ‘Apostille’, Indian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate
• Copy of residential country’s bank statement
• Copy of resident certificate or Residential permit
• Copy of FRO issued registration certificate 
• Copy of VISA granted an appointment letter from any Indian company

How to Apply for a Duplicate PAN Card?

Requesting a new PAN card is an easy process provided all the documents and information required are submitted properly. There are two ways to get the duplicate copy – offline and online. PAN allows people to request a duplicate copy of their PAN card at the post office by filling in a form along with the proof of identity, address, and payment. But if you want to make the application online to save your time, here is the step by step procedure:

• Visit TIN-NSDL or UTIITSL website to apply for a duplicate copy of your PAN card.
• Fill the form 49A if Indian citizen and Form 49-AA if foreigner.
• You can make the payment online or get a demand draft issued.
• Now take the printout of your form and send it to: 

Income Tax PAN Services Unit, NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited, 5th Floor, Mantri Sterling, Plot No. 341, Survey No. 997/8, Model Colony, Near Deep Bungalow Chowk, Pune – 411 016

• You will receive your PAN card in the next 45 days.

Types of PAN Card 

Anyone can apply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card. The PAN serves as an identification and is given to both individuals and entities by the Income Tax Department. There are different types of PAN Cards given out to applicants who fulfill different sets of requirements issued by the government. Let’s discuss the types of PAN card that are available in India along with the forms that one need to fill out in order to apply for a PAN Card: 

• PAN Card for Individuals – Form 49A
• PAN Card for Non-Resident Individuals or Persons of Indian Origin – Form 49A 
• PAN Card for foreign entities paying tax in India- Form 49AA
• PAN Card for OCI and NRE –  Form 49AA
• PAN Card for Indian Companies – NIL

Advantages of Having a PAN Card

Filing Tax Returns: When filing tax returns, individuals and entities have to quote their pan card number. PAN is a 10 Digit Code that must be unique for every individual/entity/company or HUF because as per the Income Tax Act 1961 every person who earns any income from one source or more has to file a return of income and has to quote his Permanent Account Number.

Business Registration: In order to start your own business, you need to register it with the government. Doing so requires that you obtain a PAN card which is a number issued by the government in India. This is applicable to everyone, even to people who hire others to do their work for them. 

Financial Transactions: A PAN card that is mandatory for a person or entity to be able to conduct any financial transaction. Some of the transactions facilitated by the PAN card include buying and selling of any immovable or movable property or investment above a certain limit, buying and selling of any vehicle, depositing money in a bank account in excess of a limit, opening a Demat account, investment in mutual funds, insurance policies, and shares, etc.

Availing Utility Connection: For obtaining a postpaid mobile connection from the telecom company, a PAN card is required. This is the same case for getting connections for products like LPG cylinders, electricity, or even broadband internet. A unique signature on your PAN card also acts as additional identity proof while applying for utility connections.

Opening Bank Account:  It is compulsory to have a PAN card if you wish to open a bank account. If you do not have a PAN, most banks will refuse to open an account for you. Moreover, the majority of financial institutions nowadays ask for your PAN number when taking out a loan or getting any other loan for that matter. With a PAN card, you can safely carry out financial transactions and save yourself from facing problems.