How to Link Aadhaar with PAN - Current Status, Penalty & Reactivation (2026)

• It is mandatory to link your PAN and Aadhaar cards.
• PAN holders who missed the 30 June 2023 deadline have an inoperative PAN until the linking process is completed.
• Linking Aadhaar with PAN after the deadline requires payment of a ₹1,000 penalty before submitting the linking request.
• Once the penalty is paid and the Aadhaar-PAN linking request is submitted, PAN reactivation typically takes around 30 days.
• An inoperative PAN can affect ITR filing, demat account opening, mutual fund purchases, TDS/TCS refunds and certain cash transactions.
• Aadhaar and PAN can be linked online through the Income Tax e-Filing portal after paying the applicable penalty.
• PAN-Aadhaar linking can also be initiated manually through a PAN service provider, subject to the applicable penalty.

The Aadhaar card was launched as a single source of identification in India. Therefore, linking it to critical existing documents like a PAN card was crucial for the smooth functioning of the system. The Government, therefore, made linking the Aadhaar card to the PAN card mandatory. For ease of accessibility, the Aadhaar card and the mobile number should be linked.

The deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN free of penalty was 30th June 2023. Anyone who did not link their Aadhaar and PAN by this date now has an inoperative PAN, effective 1st July 2023.

Linking is still possible, but only after paying a penalty of ₹1,000 on the NSDL (Protean) portal. Once the penalty is paid and the Aadhaar-PAN link request is submitted, reactivation of the PAN typically takes about 30 days.

If your PAN is inoperative because it was not linked with Aadhaar, you will not be able to:

• File your Income Tax Return (ITR)
• Open a demat account
• Buy mutual funds
• Receive TDS/TCS refunds
• Carry out cash transactions above ₹50,000

Step 1: Pay the ₹1,000 penalty first, on the NSDL (Protean) portal, under 'Proceed to Pay Through e-Pay Tax' (Challan No./ITNS 280, Minor head 500 - Fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar).

Step 2: Wait for the payment to be reflected (usually within a few days).

Step 3: Go to the Income Tax e-Filing portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/ and click on 'Link Aadhaar' under 'Quick Links'.

Step 4: Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and the name as per Aadhaar. Confirm the details and submit the request.

Step 5: Validate with an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number, then submit.

Step 6: Your linking request will be processed, and once successful, your PAN will typically be reactivated within about 30 days.

Also read: Business Loan On Aadhaar Card: How They are Connected or Linked?

Specific steps need to be followed to link the Aadhaar card with the mobile number. These are as follows:

Step 1: Log in on the Government's official website, the Indian Postal Service.

Step 2: Enter personal details like name, mobile number, residential address, email address, etc.

Step 3: Click on service. After this, click 'PPB - Aadhaar service from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: After this, select UIDAI-MOBILE/EMAIL to Aadhaar link in/update.

Step 5: Once all the required fields are correctly filled, thoroughly check the information entered. Then click on the 'REQUEST OTP' button. OTP will immediately be sent to the registered mobile number.

Step 6: Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number on the next page, which will be displayed on the screen.

Step 7: Now click on 'Confirm Service Request'. Once this is done, a reference number will be given. This reference number is provided so that it is easy to track the status of the application. The verification will be done using a mobile biometric device (for fingerprints, iris and photographs).

After submitting the request, it will be sent to the nearest post office. An officer assigned to link/update their Aadhaar and mobile number will visit the provided address. After completing this process, a fee of Rs. Fifty will be charged.

To link the Aadhaar card with the mobile number, the individual has to visit the nearest Aadhaar Enrollment/Update center.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Locate the closest Aadhaar enrollment/update center. The address can be located on their official website http://appointments.uidai.gov.in/easearch.aspx.

Step 2: Enter the mobile number in the Aadhaar Enrollment form (for new customers) who still need to register their mobile number. If the mobile number has changed and the person wants to link the new mobile number with the Aadhaar card, then the 'Aadhaar correction form” has to be filled out. This form is also used if the mobile number wasn't registered earlier.

Step 3: Submit the form and provide biometrics using a biometric device (for fingerprints, iris and photographs). These biometrics are taken for authentication. After completing this process pay a fee of Rs. 50.

Step 4: The executive taking the biometrics will give an acknowledgement slip.

Step 5: This slip has a URN (Update Request Number) which can be used to track the status of linking the Aadhaar card with a mobile number.

Step 6: UIDAI's toll-free number, 1947, can also track the status.

Aadhaar card and PAN card can be linked manually. The concerned person must physically go to Protean eGov Technologies Limited for this. This place is a PAN service provider. The concerned person must fill out the form for linking PAN with the Aadhaar card. This duly filled form and all the necessary documents must be submitted to the concerned person in the Protean eGov Technologies Limited office.

Note: Even through the offline/manual route, the ₹1,000 penalty (per the Current Status section above) must be paid before the linking request will be processed, since the free-linking window closed on 30th June 2023.

Also Read: PAN Card: Meaning, Documents, Eligibility & How to Apply?

Here are the steps that should be followed to determine whether Aadhaar is linked to a PAN card:

Step 1: Log in on the Government's official website of the Income Tax Department. To open the website, click on https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/.

Step 2: Click on 'Link Aadhaar Status', which can be viewed under 'Quick Links'.

Step 3: Enter the Aadhaar card number and PAN card number. Next, select the option of 'view/link Aadhaar Status'. On this page, an individual can view the status of PAN and Aadhaar card linking.

Step 4: The status of Aadhaar and PAN card linking can also be checked from the registered mobile. Here one needs to send a SMS to 56161 or 567678 after typing UIDPAN followed by the 12-digit Aadhaar number followed by a 10 digit PAN number. UIDPAN <12 digit Aadhaar number><10 digit Permanent Account Number>.

Step 5: If the Aadhaar is successfully linked with the PAN card, then a message will appear 'Aadhaar number (the 12-digit number will be displayed) is already associated with PAN (10-digit pan number) in the Income Tax database. Thank you for using our service'.

Step 1: Visit the e-filing portal of the income tax department, which is https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/iec/foservices/#/pre-login/link-aadhaar-status

Step 2: This is the 'Know Your PAN status' / Link Aadhaar Status page - no login is required.

Step 3: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, then click 'View Link Aadhaar Status'.

Step 4: The portal will display whether your PAN is active (linked) or inoperative (not linked/penalty pending), so you know exactly where you stand before attempting any financial transaction.

Both PAN cards and Aadhaar cards are essential and unique identification documents. Both these identification cards are needed almost everywhere. In many places, the submission of these documents is compulsory. The Government of India has also made it mandatory to link the PAN card with the Aadhaar card.

The free-linking deadline has already passed (30th June 2023), and PANs not linked by then are inoperative as of 1st July 2023. Linking is still possible, but only after paying the ₹1,000 penalty and completing the process on the e-Filing portal. If you haven't linked yet, it's advisable to do so as soon as possible to restore full use of your PAN for banking, investing, and tax filing.

The Aadhaar card should be linked to the person's mobile number also. Any update or notification related to the Aadhaar card can be sent to the linked mobile number.

Also Read: Track Your Aadhaar Status Easily Online