What is PAN?

Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a national identification number, issued to all taxpayers in India whose income is taxable. This number is issued by the Income Tax office, printed on a credit card size plastic card and called PAN Card. The PAN is unique and permanent. A PAN Card tracks a person in the taxman’s database. PAN card has been made mandatory and can be issued to non tax payers also.

PAN should be mentioned when anyone is filing Income tax return, opening Demat account, making a deposit of Rs.50000 or more in a Post office / bank, purchasing property or vehicle etc.

Structure of PAN

PAN is a 10 digit alphanumeric number as AAAAA9999A for example. First five characters are letters, next 4 numerals and last character letter. PAN uniquely identifies each deductee. If the PAN does not follow the above structure, then the PAN is invalid. The fourth character of the PAN must be one of the following, depending on the type of assessee

C – Company
P – Person
H – Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
F – Firm
A – Association of Persons (AOP)
T – AOP (Trust)
B – Body of Individuals (BOI)
L – Local Authority
J – Artificial Juridical Person
G – Govt

How to apply for PAN Card?

You can obtain the application form(Form 49A) from UTIISL(UTI Investor Services Ltd) or NSDL(National Securities Depository Ltd). Fill the form aptly and submit it at any of the IT PAN service centres.

Search for nearest PAN Card Application Center

You can apply for PAN Card online too

Click here to apply for PAN card online
Click here to see the guidelines to fill PAN card application

Income Tax Refund Status

You can use your PAN to check the status of your income tax refund.

Taxpayers will get status of refund 10 days after the refund has been sent by their Assessing Officer to refund banker. Status will be available only for those taxpayers whose refunds are to go through refund banker scheme.

Click here to check your Income Tax refund status