Linking your PAN card with Aadhaar is mandatory under the Income Tax Act for all Indian residents. An unlinked PAN becomes inoperative, which means you cannot file income tax returns, open a bank account, or carry out other financial transactions using that PAN. This guide covers how to link your PAN with Aadhaar online and by SMS, how to check your link status, and what to do if there is a name mismatch.
Why is PAN–Aadhaar linking mandatory?
The Income Tax Department requires all eligible PAN holders to link their PAN with Aadhaar. A PAN that is not linked to Aadhaar becomes inoperative — it cannot be used for filing returns, opening bank accounts, investing, or any transaction where quoting PAN is mandatory.
Linking also helps the government identify and deactivate duplicate or fraudulent PANs.
Method 1: Link PAN with Aadhaar online via the Income Tax portal
This is the fastest method and can be done without logging in:
1
Visit incometax.gov.inGo to the Income Tax e-filing portal. Under 'Quick Links', click 'Link Aadhaar'.
2
Enter your PAN and Aadhaar numberType your 10-digit PAN number and 12-digit Aadhaar number in the fields provided.
3
Enter your name as on AadhaarType your name exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card. Tick the box if your Aadhaar has only your birth year (not full date).
4
Enter the OTPEnter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number to verify your identity.
5
Pay the fee and submitA fee of ₹1,000 applies for late linking. Pay via the e-pay tax option on the portal, then submit the link request.
Method 2: Link PAN with Aadhaar via SMS
You can also link via SMS without visiting any portal:
1
Open your SMS appFrom your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, open your SMS application.
2
Type the messageType: UIDPAN <12-digit Aadhaar> <10-digit PAN> — for example: UIDPAN 123456789012 ABCDE1234F
3
Send to 567678 or 56161Send the SMS to either 567678 or 56161. You will receive a confirmation message once linking is successful.
How to check if your PAN is already linked with Aadhaar
Before attempting to link, check your current status:
1
Visit incometax.gov.inClick 'Link Aadhaar Status' under the Quick Links section.
2
Enter your PAN and Aadhaar numberEnter your details and click 'View Link Aadhaar Status'.
3
Check the resultThe portal will show whether your PAN and Aadhaar are already linked, pending, or not linked.
What to do if your name on PAN and Aadhaar don't match
A name mismatch is the most common reason PAN–Aadhaar linking fails. Even small differences — a middle name, a spelling variation, or a suffix — can cause a rejection.
You have two options: correct the name on your PAN card to match Aadhaar, or correct the name on your Aadhaar to match PAN. Corrections on either document take 5 to 30 days depending on the method used.
A specialist on Krakens can help you identify which document to correct and handle the correction process on your behalf.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A late linking fee of ₹1,000 applies. This is paid via the e-pay tax option on the Income Tax portal before submitting the link request.
Your PAN becomes inoperative. You will not be able to file income tax returns, open a bank account, make high-value investments, or use PAN for any financial transaction until it is linked and reactivated.
Not directly — the names must match for linking to succeed. You will need to first correct the name on either your PAN or your Aadhaar so the two documents match, then proceed with linking.
The linking request is typically processed within 7 business days of submission. You can check the status on the Income Tax portal using your PAN and Aadhaar number.
Need help linking your PAN with Aadhaar?
A verified specialist on Krakens will check your link status, identify any name mismatches, and handle corrections and the linking process for you.
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