Link Aadhaar with PAN before March 31 Or pay penalty Rs 1,000. Here is step by step guide to link

Have you linked the Permanent Account Number (PAN) to your Aadhaar card? Then hurry-up because the deadline to link both the documents ends on 31 March. In case you you fail to link your PAN card with Aadhaar card within the given deadline, then the income tax department might impose a penalty on you.

It is important to note that you will be not be liable to pay a fine of up to ₹1,000 but the PAN will also become invalid. As the time of passage of the Finance Bill, 2021, the government inserted a new section (Section 234H) into the Income Tax Act, 1961 for penalising individuals who do not link PAN with the Aadhaar card by 31 March 2021.

Here’s how to link Aadhaar card to PAN card using the income tax department’s website:

Step 1: Log on to the official website of Income Tax e-filing – incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button on the homepage menu bar

Step 3: Fill in details like PAN number, Aadhaar number, and holder’s name

Step 4: Verify details and fill captcha code

Step 5: Click on link Aadhaar

Step 6: The I-T department will validate your details, thereafter your PAN- Aadhaar linking will be completed.

Link Aadhaar card to PAN card via SMS

From your registered mobile number type UIDPAN, PAN, and Aadhaar number and send them to 567678 or 56161. For example, Type UIDPAN (12-digit Aadhaar number), SPACE (10-digit PAN), and send it to 567678 or 56161.

Here’s How To Link Aadhaar Card with PAN manually

If you want to link the documents manually, then visit a service centre issuing a PAN card and fill the ‘Annexure-I’ form. You have to fill and attach the form with a copy of the PAN and Aadhaar cards. Offline will require you to pay a prescribed fee, unlike the online linking which is free.

Remember that if you don’t link your Aadhaar card before the deadline, your PAN card will become inoperative. You will not be able to file income tax with an invalid PAN and may face higher penalty for non-compliance. Moreover, in failure of furnishing a PAN or sharing details of inoperative PAN may attract higher TDS or TCS, as per tax experts.

What you should know?

Step 4: Verify details and fill captcha code

Step 5: Click on link Aadhaar