Self-Instruct
The linking of PAN card and Aadhaar card has been made mandatory for all Indian citizens by the Government of India. This linkage initiative is taken to eliminate fake and duplicate PAN cards and prevent tax evasion. The deadline for linking PAN card and Aadhaar card has been extended till 30th September 2021. Here, we discuss the steps to link PAN card to Aadhaar card.
Step 1: Visit the Income Tax Department Portal
The first step is to visit the official website of the Income Tax Department of India, i.e. https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/. Once the website opens, go to the left side of the homepage and click on ‘Link Aadhaar.’
Step 2: Enter your Details
On the next page, you will be required to enter your PAN card details and Aadhaar card details. Enter both the details and carefully verify them before proceeding to the next step. Make sure that the name printed on your PAN card and Aadhaar card are the same. In case of a mismatch, you will not be able to link them.
Step 3: Generate OTP
Click on the ‘Generate OTP’ button that appears after entering the details. The OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar card. After receiving OTP, enter the code in the given space and click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button.
Step 4: Linking PAN Card to Aadhaar Card through SMS
It is also possible to link your PAN card to Aadhaar card through SMS. You need to send an SMS to 567678 or 56161 in the following format. PAN
Step 5: Check Status
Once you have linked your PAN card to Aadhaar card, check the status of the same to ensure that it has been successfully done. Visit the Income Tax e-filing website again and click on ‘Link Aadhaar’ on the left-hand side of the page. Enter your PAN card number and Aadhaar card number once again, and click on the ‘View Link Aadhaar Status’ link. If the linkage has been successful, a message will appear on the screen saying ‘Your PAN is linked to Aadhaar Number XXXXXXXXXXXX’.
Benefits of Linking PAN Card to Aadhaar Card
The linking of PAN card to Aadhaar card has multiple benefits which are:
Prevents tax evasion: The linking of PAN card and Aadhaar card will help the Government of India to identify individuals who are evading tax or hiding their earnings. This will help the government to significantly increase its revenue.
Eliminates Fake and Duplicate PAN Cards: Linking PAN card to Aadhaar card will weed out all the fake or duplicate PAN cards as every individual in India has a unique Aadhaar number. This will make the tax system more transparent.
Easy Filing of Income Tax Returns: Once your PAN card is linked to Aadhaar card, it becomes easy and hassle-free to file Income Tax returns. The ITR (Income Tax Return) form will have all the details auto-populated which will save you time and energy.
Ease in Investment: Linking of PAN card with Aadhaar card will help in simplifying investment procedures such as mutual funds, purchasing bonds, and other investments. PAN card and Aadhaar card linkage will become a compulsory formality for investments.
If you haven’t yet linked your PAN card to Aadhaar card, we highly recommend that you do it as soon as possible as it is now mandatory to do so in India.
Conclusion
Linking of PAN card and Aadhaar card has been made mandatory for Indian citizens by the Government of India. The linkage initiative is an attempt to eliminate fake and duplicate PAN cards and prevent tax evasion. The procedure of linking the two cards is simple and can be done online on the official website of the Income Tax Department of India. It is also possible to link the two cards through SMS. The deadline for linking PAN card and Aadhaar card is 30th September 2021.