Linking Aadhaar With Pan Card: Here's All You Need to Know

While Aadhaar is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to a resident of India, PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number allotted by the I-T Department to a person, firm or entity.Here’s what you need to know about linking your Aadhaar and PAN cards:How to Link Aadhaar with PAN Card

You can link your Aadhaar card with PAN by visiting the official website of Income Tax Department of India at www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. You can also send an SMS to 56161 or 567678 from your Registered Mobile Number (RMN) of Aadhaar Card in this format: UIDPANWhat if You Fail to Link

The first impact is that you will not be able to file your ITR after July 1 2017, if you fail to link your Aadhaar with PAN. Secondly, if you do not link or fail to link your Aadhaar card with your PAN card, then your PAN card might be rendered invalid by December 2017. Currently 99% adult population in India is enrolled with Aadhaar and the government deems it possible that every adult will be covered by the end of 2017.What If You Don’t have an Aadhaar Card

You can apply for the Aadhaar card and provide the application number as a document proving that you’ve applied for one.

Those who are not able to link their Aadhaar and PAN cards by July 1 will have the option to mention the UIDAI-provided number in the e-ITR and this will be considered a valid linking of the two unique numbers, a senior Income Tax Department official told PTI.

The official addressed the two major concerns of taxpayers: "It has been made abundantly clear that no PAN, which is not linked to Aadhaar, will be cancelled from July 1. However, any person who wants to e-file their ITRs will either have to have an Aadhaar number or the enrolment ID to be mentioned in their ITR or prior link it over the e-filing portal of the department.”

"If Aadhaar credentials are not linked with PAN or mentioned in the ITR, then such a person will not be able to e-file," the official said. E-filing of ITR is mandatory for all individuals except those whose income is less than Rs 5 lakh per annum and those who are above 80 years of age.

The Supreme Court had earlier this month upheld the validity of an Income Tax Act provision making Aadhaar mandatory for allotment of PAN cards and ITR filing, but had put a partial stay on its implementation till a Constitution bench addressed the issue of right to privacy.(With PTI inputs)