How to Check PAN Card Active or Inactive

The PAN status indicates whether your Permanent Account Number (PAN) is active or not. It is a crucial document for tracking financial transactions. It can be inactive due to not liking PAN with Aadhar or a duplicate PAN card. An Indian person who owns a PAN card can check their status with their mobile number and or PAN number to see if it is active or inactive from the official Income Tax e-filing portal.

Steps to Check PAN Card Status

Here are the steps to help you check the status of your PAN card. Refer to the steps below to verify the active status of your PAN card.

Step 1: You need to visit the Income Tax e-filing website to check your income tax status online.

Step 2: After going on the website, you need to select the 'Verify PAN status' option near the 'Quick Links' on the homepage.

Step 3: Then you need to enter your PAN number, name, date of birth, and mobile number. Then click on the continue button.

Step 4: After entering all the details, you will need to enter the OTP, which you will receive on your registered mobile number, and click the 'Validate' button.

Step 5: After entering the OTP, your PAN card status will be displayed on the screen.

Consequences of an Inactive PAN Card

Here is what you cannot do if your PAN card is inactive.

1. You cannot open an account with any banking company or cooperative bank (except a time deposit or savings account).
2. Applying for a debit card or credit issues.
3. cannot open a demat account, depository, or act as a custodian of securities.
4. If you are paying cash, which is over 50,000 INR for the following purposes:
   • To a hotel or restaurant bill.
   • To purchase a foreign currency or pay for a foreign country.
   • For purchasing mutual funds and their units.
   • For a company or institution to get bonds or debentures issued by them.
   • For getting the Reserve Bank of India bonds.
5. You cannot deposit cash more than 50,000 INR on a single day with a banking or cooperative bank.
6. Paying payments that are more than 50,000 INR for any bank drafts, cheques, or pay orders from a bank, institution, or any company.
7. Payment in cash, bank drafts, or cheques, which are more than 50,000 INR from within a financial year, with NBFC, co-operative bank, and prepaid payment instruments.
8. Life insurance premium amount exceeding 50,000 INR in a financial year.
9. Purchase of the securities of more than 1 lakh per transaction, excluding shares.
10. Purchasing of any shares or company not listed in the stock exchange of more than 1 lakh power transactions.
11. You cannot do any financial transactions in the bank account, cash deposits, property sales, or securities if your PAN card status is not active.
12. You are prohibited from submitting the Forms 15G/15H
13. You need to pay a high amount of tax for the following if your PAN card status is not active:
    • For any purchase of a vehicle which have more than 2 wheels.
    • If you want to purchase any property that costs more than 10 lakhs or has a stamp valued by the development authority.
    • For any goods and services purchase that is more than 2 lakh per transaction.

Why Your PAN Card is Inactive

Let's examine the reasons marked by the Income Tax Department for an inactive PAN number.

PAN Number Not Linked with Aadhaar

One of the most common reasons for the Permanent Account Number (PAN) is not linking PAN-Aadhaar. As per the latest guidelines by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), all PAN cards need to be linked with their Aadhar card by 31 December 2025, and if they do not do so, then it will result in the deactivation of their PAN until they link their PAN number with an Aadhar card.

Having Multiple PAN Cards

If a single person has more than one PAN card, then you cannot have your PAN active status because under section 139A of the Income Tax Act, if any person is found to have more than 1 PAN card, then his/her PAN will be deactivated.

Applying PAN with False Documents

Suppose any person is found to have a PAN card with fake or duplicated identity documents. In that case, their PAN card's active status will be removed, and they will be liable to pay fines under the Income Tax Act, which is a criminal offense. Having a PAN with fake IDs or with an identity of a non-existent person will be marked as invalid, and the PAN will be deactivated instantly.

Giving Incorrect Information

Your PAN card status can also be inactive with incorrect personal information, like entering the wrong name or spelling mistakes, or the date of birth. If these mistakes are found in your PAN card, then it will be marked as invalid, and your PAN will be deactivated.

Note: PAN card linking with an Aadhar card is only applicable for Indian citizens, not for NRIs.

What to Do if PAN is Inactive

If your PAN card is inactive and not showing the PAN card active status, then you can send a letter to the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) in the Income Tax Department requesting to activate your PAN card. Additionally, you need to add the following documents to your letter:

• Copy of your PAN, which is used to file the Income Tax return (ITR).
• Your Identity bonds favour the Income Tax department.
• A copy of your last three income tax returns by your deactivated PAN number.

When the JAO receives your letter and is satisfied with it, you can then activate your PAN card, which will be helpful within 15-20 working days.

Process to Link PAN with Aadhaar

Here is the easy and simple process of linking your PAN card with your Aadhaar card. It also makes PAN active if your PAN is not linked and deactivated. So, follow the given steps to link your PAN with your Aadhaar easily.

Step 1: Go to the official website of the Income Tax e-filing website.

Step 2: Click on the 'e-Pay Tax' option and on the homepage under the 'Quick links'.

Step 3: Enter your valid 'Permanent Account Number' and your registered mobile number, and click on the continue button.

Step 4: Enter the OPT that you have received on your registered mobile number.

Step 5: Under the 'Income Tax' button, click on Proceed.

Step 6: Select your Assessment year, which is '2025-26 ', and type of payments 'Other Receipts(500)', and pay your penalties by clicking on the continue button.

Step 7: After making the payments, go to the homepage and click on the 'Link Aadhar' option below the 'Quick Links' button.

Step 8: Enter your PAN number and click on the 'Validate' option. Then enter all your details like name, mobile number. After entering all the details, click on the 'Link Aadhar' button.

Step 9: After that, you will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP and click on the 'Validate' option. Now you have sent a request to link your PAN card with an Aadhar card successfully to the UIDAI.

How to Check PAN status with Aadhaar

Here are some of the steps given below that will help you to check PAN card status linked with Aadhaar online.

Step 1: First, you need to visit the official website of the Income Tax e-filing website.

Step 2: Choose the option 'Link Aadhar Status' under the 'Quick Links' on the Homepage.

Step 3: You need to enter your PAN number and Aadhar card number, and click on the 'View link Aadhar status'.

Step 4: After clicking, you can check your PAN card status, which will be displayed on the screen.

If you have successfully linked your PAN card with an Aadhaar card, then you have to wait for approximately 30 days for the proper use of your PAN card.

Final Words

This article explains how to verify whether your PAN card is active or not. Hope after reading this blog, all your confusions related to your PAN card get solved. If you have any queries related to your PAN or are seeking a reliable PAN card service, please connect with Visament. We have experienced PAN card agents on the Visament website who can resolve your queries within a few minutes.