How To Check Your PAN Aadhaar Linking Status

It is very simple to check your PAN-Aadhaar linking status through the e-filing website:

• You need to go to the official Income Tax e-filing website
• On the left hand side of the page, you will see the option “Link Aadhaar”.
• Once you click the option, it will take you to a page to link your PAN and Aadhaar.
• On the top of the form, you will see the option to check the linking status. It will be a blinking “‘Click here’ to view the status if you have already submitted Link Aadhaar request”
• Clicking on this option of checking status will take you to a different page. You just have to fill in the details of your PAN and Aadhaar number.
• And click on “View Link Aadhaar Status” button. 
• A notification will appear that will tell you about the status of linking.
• If you get a message saying that your PAN & Aadhaar are not linked, you can follow the procedure to link them.

How to check PAN-Aadhaar linking status through SMS?

You can easily check the PAN & Aadhaar linking status through SMS. You just have to type an SMS in the prescribed format and send it to 567678 or 56161. The format you have to use is:

UIDPAN SPACE 12 digit Aadhaar SPACE 10 digit PAN

For example, if your Aadhaar number is 123412341234 and PAN is ABCDP5678Q. Then you are required to send an SMS in the below format to 567678 or 56161

UIDPAN 123412341234 ABCDP5678Q

If the linking has been done, you will receive a message to this effect. If you get a message that the linking has not been done, you can follow the procedure to link them.

What will happen if I don’t link my PAN and Aadhaar before June 30th?

You may end up paying a penalty of Rs. 10,000! 

The Department of Income Tax constantly urges citizens to link their PAN and Aadhaar before the specified deadline. Linking your PAN & Aadhaar is now compulsory, without fail.

If you do not link your PAN & Aadhaar before the deadline, it has been announced by the IT Department that it will become 'inoperative.' You will not be able to use your PAN financial transactions such as bank account opening, fixed-deposit investment, income tax returns, etc. Effectively, an Inoperative PAN means the person has no PAN. PAN will become operational again only from the date on which PAN is linked to Aadhaar. For example, if you have not linked your PAN & Aadhaar by June 30th, 2020, it will become inoperative on July 1st, 2020. If you then go and complete the linking on July 15th, 2020, your PAN will once again become operative from this date.

Now, as per latest statements, the IT Department might also levy a fine of whopping Rs.10,000 on individuals who fail to link their PAN with Aadhaar.

Why is it important to link PAN & Aadhaar?

PAN is mandatory for all tax paying citizens. It has to be mentioned on your income tax returns. Here are some of the applications of the PAN number:

For payment of direct taxes
• To file income tax returns
• To avoid deduction of tax at higher rate than due
• To enter into specific transaction such as:
• Sale or purchase of immovable property valued at Rs 5 lakh or more
• Sale or purchase of a vehicle other than a two wheeler
• Payment to hotels or restaurants an amount exceeding Rs 25,000 at any one time
• Payment in cash an amount exceeding Rs 25,000 in connection with travel to any foreign country
• Payment of an amount of Rs 50,000 or more to the Reserve Bank of India for acquiring bonds
• Payment of an amount of Rs 50,000 or more to a company or an institution for acquiring bonds or debentures
• Payment of an amount of Rs 50,000 or more to a company for acquiring shares
• Any mutual fund purchase
• Deposit exceeding Rs 50,000 with any single banking institution in 24 hours.
• Payment exceeding Rs 5 lakh for purchase of bullion and jewellery

By mentioning your PAN number on these transactions, the government is able to keep track of the financial transactions you have carried out in a year and levy corresponding income tax on a citizen.

Aadhaar based PAN

Instant PAN allotment service based on Aadhaar has been introduced to assign PAN in near-real time. You are required to quote a valid Aadhaar number issued by India's Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) and is not linked to any PAN. The e-KYC data from the Aadhaar number will be shared with India's Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI). You will be allotted a PAN after proper processing of e KYC data in the Income-Tax database.

• Aadhaar based PAN is easy to apply and avail
• Simple paperless process
• PAN is allotted within 10 minutes
• Valued similarly to a physical PAN Card
• All you need is a valid Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to it
• Enables tax assessees to file tax online without any hassle