PAN Card: Complete Guide to Application, Correction & Uses in 2026

What a PAN card is for

Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department. It's mandatory for filing tax returns, opening a bank account, most transactions above prescribed thresholds, and is now the de facto identity anchor for most financial dealings in India.

Applying for a new PAN

New PAN applications are filed online via NSDL/Protean or UTIITSL using Form 49A (Indian citizens) or 49AA (foreign citizens/entities), along with identity, address and date-of-birth proof. Processing typically takes 7-15 working days for the physical card, with the e-PAN issued sooner by email.

Correcting errors on an existing PAN

Name spelling mismatches, date of birth errors, or an outdated photo can all be fixed through a PAN correction request on the same NSDL/UTIITSL portals — you don't need a fresh PAN, and your PAN number stays the same.

PAN and your tax filing

Your PAN links every TDS deduction, AIS entry and prior filing under one identity, which is exactly what we reconcile when preparing your income tax return.

FAQs

Can I hold two PAN cards? No — holding more than one PAN is illegal and attracts a penalty; if you have a duplicate, apply to surrender the extra one.

Is PAN-Aadhaar linking mandatory? Yes for most taxpayers — an unlinked PAN becomes inoperative, which blocks TDS credit and return filing until it's linked.