Linking your Aadhaar card and PAN card is an essential task that every Indian taxpayer needs to complete before March 31, 2023. The Government of India has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar with a PAN card to file your income tax return (ITR). Linking Aadhaar and PAN helps eliminate duplicate and fraudulent PAN cards and ensures that only genuine taxpayers file their ITR. In this blog, we will provide a step-by-step guide to link your Aadhaar and PAN card, making the process quick and hassle-free. So, read on to know the steps to link your Aadhaar and PAN card before the deadline.

What Do You Need To Know About Linking Aadhar Card & Pan Card?

Linking an Aadhaar card and PAN card is a mandatory requirement for all taxpayers in India. It is an essential process that needs to be completed before March 31, 2023. Here are some things that you need to know about linking an Aadhaar card and a PAN card:

Pan Aadhaar link is a must for filing income tax returns (ITR). If you cannot link your Aadhaar and PAN card, then you cannot file your ITR.

Linking Aadhaar and PAN cards is simple and can be done online through the Income Tax e-filing website (eportal.incometax.gov.in). It is important to ensure that the details mentioned on your Aadhaar and PAN card match, as any discrepancy in the details may cause the linking to fail.

In case you have multiple Pan cards, surrender the duplicate pan card and then, ensure to link the original PAN card with the same Aadhaar card. If you have only a year of birth mentioned on your Aadhaar card and it does not match with the year of birth mentioned on your PAN card, then you will be required to tick the box saying, ‘I have only one year of birth in my Aadhaar card’ and then proceed with the linking.

It is advisable to ensure that your Aadhaar card details are updated and correct before attempting to link it with your PAN.

If you face any issues while linking your Aadhaar and PAN card, you can contact the Income Tax department’s toll-free number 18001801961 for assistance.

Linking Aadhaar and PAN helps eliminate duplicate and fraudulent PAN cards and ensures that only genuine taxpayers file their ITR.

In conclusion, linking Aadhaar and PAN cards is a straightforward process that every taxpayer must complete before the deadline to avoid any inconvenience. It helps in streamlining the tax filing process and ensures that only genuine taxpayers are filing their returns.

Step-By-Step Guide To Link Pan And Aadhar Card Before 31 March

Sure, here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to link your PAN and Aadhaar card before the deadline of March 31, 2023:

• Step 1: Visit the eportal Income Tax & e-filing website – https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/

• Step 2: On the homepage, click on the ‘Login Here’ button to log in to your account. If you haven’t registered on the portal yet, then click on the ‘Register’ button and complete the registration process.

• Step 3: Once you have logged in, click on the ‘Profile Settings’ tab from the dashboard.

• Step 4: Under the ‘Profile Settings’ tab, click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ option.

• Step 5: Enter your Aadhaar number, name as per Aadhaar, and the captcha code displayed on the screen. Ensure that the details entered match your Aadhaar card.

• Step 6: If you have only a year of birth mentioned on your Aadhaar card and it does not match with the year of birth mentioned on your PAN card, then you will be required to tick the box saying, ‘I have only a year of birth in Aadhaar card’ and then proceed by clicking on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button.

• Step 7: If your details are correct and match your Aadhaar card, then click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button.

• Step 8: After you click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button, a pop-up will appear showing that your Aadhaar has been successfully linked to your PAN card.

• Step 9: You can also check the status of the Aadhaar-PAN linking by clicking on the ‘View Aadhaar Status’ option under the ‘Profile Settings’ tab.

It is important to note that if there is any discrepancy in the details entered while linking PAN and Aadhaar, the linking may fail, and you will be required to rectify the discrepancies before attempting to link again. Also, it is advisable to ensure that your Aadhaar card details are updated and correct before attempting to link it with your PAN.

Consequences:- 

If you fail to link your PAN card with your Aadhaar card before the deadline, it will result in the following consequences:

• You will not be able to file income tax returns using an inoperative PAN card.
• Any pending returns will not be processed, and you will not receive pending refunds through an inoperative PAN card.
• The Tax Collected at Source (TCS) or Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) will be applied at a higher rate.
• TCS/TDS credit will not reflect on Form 26AS, and TCS/TDS certificates will not be available.
• You will be unable to submit Form 15G/15H declarations for nil TDS.

Your inoperative PAN card will prevent you from conducting the following transactions:

• Opening a bank account.
• Issuing debit/credit cards.
• Purchasing mutual fund units exceeding Rs.50,000.
• Depositing cash with a bank or post office exceeding Rs.50,000 in a day.
• Purchasing a bank draft or pay order in cash exceeding Rs.50,000 in a day.
• Making a time deposit with banks, Nidhi, Non-Banking Financial Corporations (NBFCs), etc., exceeding Rs.50,000 or aggregating to more than Rs.2,50,000 during a financial year.
• Making a payment for one or more prepaid payment instruments as defined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through bank draft, pay order, or banker’s cheque aggregating to more than Rs.50,000 in a financial year.
• Selling or purchasing goods or services exceeding Rs.2,00,000 per transaction.

Penalty for non-linking of PAN with Aadhaar card

The consequences for not linking your PAN card with your Aadhaar card have been made clear by the authorities. Previously, the penalty for linking PAN-Aadhaar was Rs. 500/-. If the taxpayers link the PAN with their Aadhaar before 31st March 2023 then the penalty is 1000/-   However, taxpayers must now link their PAN-Aadhaar by the last date of 31st March 2023, and if they fail to do so, they will need to pay a late penalty of Rs. 5,000/-. This penalty must be paid before filing for the PAN-Aadhaar link on the Income Tax website. It is important to note that to pay the penalty, you must have a valid PAN number, Aadhaar number and mobile number.

Different Ways of Linking Aadhar Cards & Pan Cards

There are various ways to link the Aadhaar card and PAN card in India. Here are some methods:

• Online linking: The easiest and quickest way to link your Aadhaar card and PAN card is through the Income Tax e-filing website. Follow the step-by-step process mentioned on the website to link the two documents.

• SMS linking: If you have registered your mobile number with your Aadhaar, you can link your Aadhaar card and PAN card by sending an SMS to 567678 or 56161. The SMS should be in the following format: UIDPAN<12-digit Aadhaar number><10-digit PAN number>.

• Mobile app linking: The government has launched a mobile app called ‘Aadhaar PAN linking’ that can link an Aadhaar card and a PAN card. Download the app from the Play Store or App Store and follow the instructions to link the two documents.

• Offline linking: You can also link your Aadhaar card and PAN card offline by visiting any of the NSDL or UTIITSL facilitation centers across the country. Fill out the form, attach a copy of your Aadhaar and PAN card, and submit it at the center.

• EVC linking: If you have an Electronic Verification Code (EVC), you can link your Aadhaar card and PAN card through the Income Tax e-filing website by entering the EVC generated through your registered mobile number.

• Aadhaar seeding: If you have already linked your Aadhaar card with your bank account, you can use the ‘Aadhaar seeding’ option available on the bank’s website to link your Aadhaar card and PAN card.

Linking an Aadhaar card and PAN card is mandatory for all taxpayers in India to avoid tax evasion. You can choose any of the above methods to link your Aadhaar card and PAN card, depending on your convenience. Ensure that you provide accurate details while linking to avoid any issues in the future.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, linking an Aadhaar card and PAN card before March 31, 2023, is a requirement for all taxpayers in India. It is a simple and straightforward process that can be done online through the Income Tax e-filing website, via SMS, mobile app, offline facilitation centers, or Aadhaar seeding. 

Linking PAN with Aadhaar cards helps eliminate duplicate and fraudulent PAN cards and ensures that only genuine taxpayers file their ITR. It also helps in streamlining the tax filing process and makes it easier for taxpayers to file their returns. Failing to link Aadhaar and PAN card may result in not being able to file ITR, and hence, it is essential to complete the process before the deadline. So, link your Aadhaar and PAN card before March 31, 2023, to avoid any inconvenience in the future.

If you need more assistance, connect with CANearByMe today! Their experts can guide you on how to link your PAN and Aadhar before you miss the deadline.