What is a PAN Card?
A PAN card is issued under the Income Tax Act, 1961 and it contains a unique 10-digit alphanumeric code. This code is computer-generated and is unique to the holder of the card and is valid for the lifetime.The PAN system of identification is a computer-based system that assigns unique identification number to every Indian tax paying entity. Through this method, all tax-related information for a person is recorded against a single PAN number which acts as the primary key for storage of information.
PAN Card – Permanent Account Number
Permanent Account Number or PAN is a means of identifying various taxpayers in the country. A PAN card is required to file an IT return, open a bank account, purchase a new asset such as a car or a house, for accommodations, trade & purchases, or even for transactions exceeding a certain amount, among many other things. It has now become proof of identity in India.
Who can avail a PAN Card?
PAN Card is issued to individuals, companies, non-resident Indians or anyone who pays taxes in India. All Indian citizens having a valid source of income and necessary proofs (as prescribed by the Income Tax Department) are eligible to apply for PAN card.
Types of PAN
- Individual
- HUF-Hindu undivided family
- Company
- Firms/Partnerships
- Trusts
- Society
- Foreigners
Documents Required for a PAN Card
The requirement of documents varies greatly depending on the applicant.Here are the documents which are required along with the PAN application form when individuals or other entities apply for a PAN card.
A. For an Individual Applicant
(i) Identity Proof which can be a copy of any one among the following:
- Any govt. issued ID – Aadhar card, DL, Voter ID, etc.
- Arm’s License
- Pensioner Card which contains the applicant’s photograph
- A photo ID card which is issued by Central Government, State Government or a Public Sector Undertaking
- Central Government’s Health Scheme Card or Ex-Servicemen’s Contributory Health Scheme Photo Card
- An original bank certificate which is issued on the bank’s letterhead from the branch of the bank and attested by the issuing officer. Such a certificate should contain an attested photograph of the applicant along with the bank account number.
(ii) An address proof which can be a copy of any one of the following:
- Electricity, landline or broadband connection bill
- Postpaid mobile phone bill
- Water bill
- LPG or piped gas connection bill or Gas Connection book
- Bank account statement
- Credit card statement
- Deposit account statement
- Post Office account Passbook
- Passport
- Voter’s ID Card
- Driving License
- Property registration document
- Domicile certificate issued by the Indian Government
- Aadhar Card
- Original certificate from the employer provided that the employer is a reputed public or private corporation
(iii) Date of birth proof which can be a copy of any one of the following:
- Birth certificate which is issued by the Municipal Authority or any authorized authority
- Matriculation certificate
- Pension Payment order
- Passport
- Marriage certificate issued by Registrar of Marriages
- Driving license
- Domicile certificate issued by the Indian Government
- An affidavit sworn before a magistrate stating the applicant’s date of birth
B. For a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
- An affidavit issued by the Karta of the HUF stating the name, address and the father’s name of every coparcener as on the date on which the application is made.
- Identity proof, address proof and date of birth proof as in case of an individual for the Karta of the HUF.
C. For a Company registered in India
- A copy of the Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Companies.
D. For Firms and Limited Liability Partnerships formed or registered in India
- A copy of the Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Firms or Limited Liability Partnerships.
- A copy of the Partnership Deed.
E. For Trust formed or registered in India
- Copy of Trust Deed or a copy of the Certificate of Registration Number issued by a Charity Commissioner.
F. For an Association of Persons
- Copy of Agreement/Certificate of Registration Number from Registrar of Co-operative Society or Charity Commissioner or other competent authority or any document issued by the Central/State Government which shows identity and address of the applicant.
G. For individuals who are not Indian Citizens
(i) A proof of identity which can be any one of the following:
- Passport copy
- Copy of PIO card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of OCI Card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of other national or citizenship Identification Number or TIN attested by applicable ‘Apostille’, Indian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate where the applicant is based.
(ii) Address proof can be any one of the following:
- Passport copy
- Copy of PIO card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of OCI Card issued by the Indian Government
- Copy of other national or citizenship Identification Number or TIN attested by relevant ‘Apostille’, Indian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate
- Copy of bank statement of the residential country
- Copy of NRE bank statement in India
- Copy of resident certificate or Residential permit
- Copy of registration certificate issued by FRO
- Copy of VISA granted and appointment letter from any Indian company
How to Apply for a PAN Card Online 2025?
You can submit your PAN application online through one of two portals. The first is the NSDL portal, and the second is the UTIITSL portal. After visiting the official websites of any of these portals, you must complete one of these forms: Form 49A (for Indian citizens) or Form 49AA (for non-Indian citizens) (for foreigners).
Apply for PAN Card through NSDL 2026
- Visit the NSDL official website, then click on ‘Application Type’ on the next screen that appears
- Choose the type of application that you want to submit (Form 49A for Indian citizens, Form 49AA for foreign citizens)
- Now, select a category from the drop-down menu
- Fill in your information carefully after that
- Choose the title (Shri, Smt, or Kumari) that you want to appear on your PAN card
- Fill in the blanks with your last name/surname, first name, and middle name ( if there is any)
- Choose your DOB/Incorporation/Formation date in the format shown below – DD/MM/YY
- Keep a record of your current email address so you don’t miss out on any PAN-card-related information
- Enter your current mobile number
- Tick mark on the guidelines
- Submit your application after entering the CAPTCHA code
- The page will then redirect you to the payment page, where you must pay Rs. 93 for your PAN card. If you select Form 49AA, you must pay Rs. 864
- You can pay with a credit card, a debit card, net banking, a check, or a DD
- After successfully submitting your PAN card application, you will receive an acknowledgement number page. Take a printout and save it for future use
- Place a passport-sized photograph on the acknowledgement paper, sign it with a black pen, and mail the acknowledgement receipt to the Income Tax Department. Send your residential proof, identity proof, or other support documents, along with the receipt, within 15 days of the date of the online application
- After your documents have been successfully validated, you will be sent your PAN card number to your registered mobile number and email address
Apply for a PAN Card through UTIITSL
- Visit the official website of UTIITSL and select the ‘For PAN Cards’ option
- Click on ‘Apply PAN Card’
- You will now be redirected to a new page with options such as PAN card as an Indian Citizen, PAN card as a Foreign Citizen, Download e-PAN, etc.Â
- Select ‘PAN Card as an Indian Citizen’ or ‘PAN Card as a Foreign Citizen’ from the drop-down menus
- Click on the option that best describes your citizenship, then on ‘Apply for a New PAN Card (Form 49A),’ ‘Regenerate Online PAN Application (Form 49A),’ or ‘Download Blank PAN Form 49A.’
- Select ‘Apply for a New PAN Card.’
- Following that, you will be redirected to Form 49A or Form 49AA, where you will have two options for filling out the form: ‘Physical Mode’ and ‘Digital Mode.
- Click on ‘Physical Mode,’ and then submit the signed application to the nearest UTIITSL office for a physical copy of the PAN card
- Fill in all of the required information, such as ‘Applicant Status,’ and select your preferred PAN card mode
- Once done, submit the application
- Make the required payment for your PAN Card on the following screen, using a DD, cheque, internet banking, credit card, or debit card
- Following payment, you will be sent a soft copy of an acknowledgement paper
- Now, take a printout of the acknowledgement paper, paste your passport-sized photograph on it, and sign it in black ink
- Send the acknowledgement receipt, along with copies of the identity and residence proofs, to the Income Tax Department within 15 days of submitting the online application
- After the documentation process is completed, your PAN number will be sent to your registered mobile number and email address
How to Apply for a PAN Card Offline?
- Log in to the official website of NSDL
- Click ‘Apply Online,’ then download Form 49A if you are an Indian citizen, and Form 49AA if you are a foreign citizen
- Fill out the form carefully, upload all supporting documents, including a passport-sized photograph, and pay the PAN card fee
- After that, print a copy of the 15-digit acknowledgement number and sign it
- Attach a passport-sized photograph as well as POI (Proof of Identity)/POA (Proof of Authorization) (Point of Address)
- Now, carefully send all of the above documents to the NSDL office, along with the Demand Draft (if you are paying with it)
