The clock is ticking for Indian taxpayers to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) with their Aadhaar. The government has set a firm deadline of December 31, 2025, for this mandatory linkage. Failure to comply will result in your PAN card becoming inactive from January 1, 2026, potentially disrupting financial transactions and tax filings.
Urgent Deadline: What Happens If You Miss It?
In a circular issued on April 3, 2025, the Ministry of Finance formally notified the deadline under the powers of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The notification mandates that every person who was allotted a PAN based on an Aadhaar Enrolment ID application filed before October 1, 2024, must intimate their Aadhaar number to the tax authorities by the year-end. The key consequence of missing this deadline is clear: an inactive PAN cannot be used for official purposes, which may lead to higher tax deductions and difficulties in opening bank accounts or conducting significant financial transactions.
How to Check Your PAN-Aadhaar Linking Status Online
The Income Tax Department has simplified the process to verify if your PAN and Aadhaar are successfully linked. You can check the status without even logging into the portal.
Check Status Without Login (Pre-Login)
Visit the e-Filing Portal homepage. Under the 'Quick Links' section, click on 'Link Aadhaar Status'. On the new page, enter your PAN and Aadhaar numbers, then click 'View Link Aadhaar Status'. The system will display a message confirming your current linkage status upon successful validation.
Check Status After Login (Post-Login)
For registered users, log in to the e-filing portal. On your dashboard, click on 'Link Aadhaar Status'. You can also navigate to 'My Profile' and then select 'Link Aadhaar Status'. A validation message will show your status. If the validation fails, the portal provides an option to 'Link Aadhaar' directly from the status page to initiate the process again. If your request is pending validation with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), you are advised to check the status at a later time.
Step-by-Step Guide to Link Aadhaar with PAN
For those who haven't completed the linkage, the process is straightforward. Go to the e-filing portal homepage and click 'Link Aadhaar' under Quick Links. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number and click 'Validate'. Fill in the required mandatory details and proceed to click 'Link Aadhaar'. You will receive a 6-digit OTP on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. Enter this OTP to validate and complete the request. A successful submission message will confirm that your request has been registered.
The Income Tax Department emphasizes that both registered and unregistered users can perform this linking on the e-filing portal. With only a few days remaining until the deadline, taxpayers are strongly urged to complete this crucial compliance step to ensure seamless financial operations in the new year.
