Aadhaar–PAN linking: December 31 deadline, penalty of Rs 1,000, and other things not to miss

If you have a PAN card then here's essential information for you. If you have still not liked your PAN card with the Aadhaar card, then there's your last chance to do so. The Income Tax Department has asked all PAN card holders to link their PAN with Aadhaar card immediately. The last date to link a PAN card with Aadhaar is December 31, 2025. Your PAN card will become inoperative if you fail to link the two till the aforementioned date.

Taxpayers who have not yet completed the process must pay a Rs 1,000 late fee before linking. However, PAN holders who obtained their cards after October 1, 2024 using Aadhaar enrolment ID can link their PAN with Aadhaar free of charge until December 31, 2025.

How to link PAN Card with Aadhaar

So, in case if you have still not linked your PAN card with your Aadhaar then follow the below mentioned steps to do so:

Step 1: First, go to the official Income Tax e-filing portal or click on the link -- www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/

Step 2: Now go to the 'Quick Links' section and click on the 'Link Aadhaar option'

Step 3: After this enter your PAN card and Aadhaar card numbers and click on Validate.

Step 4: If your Aadhaar card is already linked to your PAN then you will see a message on your screen which reads, 'PAN is already linked with the Aadhaar or with some other Aadhaar'.

Step 5: In case your PAN is not linked to your Aadhaar and you have paid a challan on the NSDL portal, then the payment information will be validated by electronic filing. You will get a pop-up notification saying 'Your payment details are verified' after confirming your PAN and Aadhaar.

Step 6: After entering the required details you have to click on the Link Aadhaar option

Step 7: Now you have to enter the 6-digit OTP received on your registered mobile number.

Step 8: You now have to submit your request for an Aadhaar Pan link

It should be kept in mind that the linking of a PAN card with an Aadhaar takes up to 4 to 5 working days

What will happen if I don't link Aadhaar and PAN card

Your PAN will become inoperative if you do not link it with Aadhaar till 31 December 2025 and shall face the following consequences as a result of PAN becoming inoperative:

1. li1refund of any amount of tax or part thereof, due under the provisions of the Act shall not be made to him;
2. li1interest shall not be payable to him on such refund for the period, beginning with the date specified under sub-rule (4) of rule 114AAA and ending with the date on which it becomes operative;
3. li1where tax is deductible under Chapter XVJJ-B in case of such person, such tax shall be deducted at higher rate, in accordance with the provisions of section 206AA;
4. li1where tax is collectible at source under Chapter XVJJ-BB in case of such person, such tax shall be collected at higher rate, in accordance with the provisions of section 206CC.