If you are planning to get your PAN number, you can get it online with e-PAN and that too absolutely free of cost. The Income Tax Department has a service on their website to offer e-PAN services which may be availed by the people who do not have a PAN card and wish to get the same.
Now let us understand more about e-PAN
What is e-PAN
e-PAN is a digital PAN card issued by the Income Tax Department in electronic form to the people who are already holding Aadhaar cards. It is issued using the Aadhaar e-KYC process and for the sanctity of this card, it is digitally signed by the IT department.
At the time of making the Aadhaar card, e-KYC was done with UIDAI verifying with proof of Identity and Proof of address. So these details are used by the Income Tax Department for the making of e-PAN Online. (It is important to note that your details of Aadhaar card must be right as the PAN card will capture the same.)
Validity of e-PAN
E-PAN is nothing but a digital form of PAN card so it is equivalent to PAN card which we currently hold. However it is easier for people to use it just downloading the same from the Income tax efiling portal https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home
Eligibility of e-PAN
e-PAN is available for the people holding Aadhaar cards as such it excludes HUFs, Firms, trusts and Companies. The people eligible for e-PAN remain the resident individual. It is important to note that minors and other individuals covered u/s 160 of IT Act 1961 cannot avail this service. Any Foreign National can also not avail this facility.
Resident Individuals planning to avail this e-PAN service should keep in mind that they should have an Aadhaar card and also a mobile number updated with UIDAI is available with them. While processing e-PAN, it will ask for OTP (One Time Password) which will be received on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar card.
Also the data updated with Aadhaar card should be latest which includes Name (correct spelling of name), Date of Birth, Gender, Address, email id and Mobile number. In case, these details are not correct, you may get it rectified in the Aadhaar card before applying for e PAN. These details only will be populated with e-PAN only.
Process of getting an e-PAN
The process of getting an e-PAN is very simple, fast and paperless. The only item that you should have before starting the same is your Aadhaar number, Registered Mobile and Scanned copy of photograph. Once you are ready, then just follow these simple steps for getting an e-PAN.
Step 1 – Visit the Income Tax efiling website https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home
Step 2 – Click on the link e-PAN as shown in picture below
Step 3 – You will be taken to page “Apply for Instant e-PAN”.
Step 4 – Instruction for applying e-PAN will open. Please read carefully and click on Next
Step 5 – Fill your name details, Date of birth, Gender and Aadhaar number and Submit. Please be very careful of the name submitting as it has to exactly match with Aadhaar details else the submission will fail.
After entering details, an OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter OTP received and Submit.
On Submission, a page with Aadhaar data, data for verification will emerge along with space to upload photographs. Please note that the scanned photograph should coloured, not more than 200 dpi and 10 kb in size.
On submission of e-PAN form, a 15 digit acknowledgement number will be sent on the registered mobile number and email id as filled in the form.
Track Application for e-PAN
One can track applications by visiting the same link on the Income Tax website and subsequently visiting “Track Instant e-PAN status”. Fill your 15 digit acknowledgement number received while applying for e-PAN and submit. The status will emerge.
Important things to remember
- E-PAN is only for resident individuals only except minor or representative assesses. Foreign Individuals, Companies, HUFs and Trust cannot use this facility.
- The Name in e-PAN should be exactly the same as Aadhar card details.
- Mobile numbers updated with Aadhaar card should be the latest one to receive the OTP.
- The scanned photograph should be coloured, 200 dpi and not more than 10KB in size.
- You do not require any Digital signature for the same.
- No physical paper is required for e-PAN and the process is completely paperless
- In-person verification is not required in case of e-PAN
- People with Inactive Aadhaar cards cannot apply for this facility.
One done with all this, e-PAN gets generated in the shortest possible time (as the Department claims). However, it is a great initiative and should facilitate the Individuals from the hassles of paperwork while making a PAN card. Such initiatives not only increase the Tax compliance but also reflect the positivity of the Government towards comfort of citizens.
