How to Avail 'instant' PAN Card using Aadhaar?

With the Income Tax Department of the country launching a one-time service for those individuals who do not have a Permanent Account Number (PAN), there seem to be lot of doubt in the minds of the applicants. The PAN card is required by individuals to file income tax returns and with this being the high time for filing the returns, people who do not have the 10-digit alphanumeric number are looking to avail it by the using the ‘new’ service offered by the IT department. As part of the service, applicants can avail an ‘instant’ PAN or e-PAN with the help of the Aadhaar card. The service which has been introduced for a limited period of time is available for free on a first-come-first-serve basis to resident Indians only. It needs to be mentioned that the service can be availed by only individuals who have an Aadhaar card and have previously not had a PAN card in their name. Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), minors, companies, trusts etc are not eligible to avail the service.
The department informed that the instant PAN service was launched keeping in the mind the large number of applications that they had received in the last couple of months. With the last date for filing income tax returns fast approaching, the department with the help of the service was trying to facilitate those seeking PAN cards to file their returns.

How can an individual apply for instant PAN?

• First, the applicant needs to visit www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home
• Select, ‘Instant e-PAN’ option under the ‘Quick Links’ tab.
• In the next page, select ‘Apply Instante-PAN’
• Read the instructions and click on ‘Next’.
• Next, fill in the details like name, date of birth, gender, Aadhaar details. (The details provided must match the ones mentioned in the Aadhaar card).
• Click on ‘Submit’.

After the application is submitted, Aadhaar e-KYC will be carried out by the authorities. Only after Aadhaar e-KYC is completed, the entire process of e-PAN or instant PAN shall be initiated. It needs to be mentioned that while submitting the application form, applicants who wish to avail instant PAN or e-PAN need to upload a scanned copy of his/her signature on a white paper in not more than 10KB size. Once the application is successfully registered, a 15-digit acknowledgement number will be generated and sent to the applicant on the email address and mobile number provided in the application form. With the help of the acknowledgement number, the status of Instant e-PAN can be checked by the applicant.
Once the instant PAN is alloted to the applicant, he/she will be intimated through an SMS or email. Following which, the instant PAN can be downloaded from the e-filing portal www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home.

How to download ‘Instant PAN’?

To download instant PAN or e-PAN, The applicant needs to follow the below mentioned steps:

• Visit www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home
• Click on ‘Instant e-PAN’ under the ‘Quick Links’ Tab.
• On the next page, select ‘Check Instant e-PAN Status’.
• Enter the acknowledgment number and the captcha code
• Click on ‘Submit’.

Points that needs to kept in mind prior to applying for Instant PAN

While looking to avail an instant PAN, there are certain things that the applicant needs to keep in mind. Those are as follows:

• Individuals who already have a PAN must not apply for instant PAN.
• Active mobile number must be linked with Aadhaar to receive the One Time Password (OTP).
• As instant PAN is generated using the particulars available in Aadhaar, it is necessary to update all the details first by visiting the UIDAI website.
• Physical documents are not required to be submitted while applying for an e-PAN.