The Government of India has announced that linking Aadhaar with PAN will be mandatory by December 31, 2025. Beginning January 1, 2026, all PAN cards that remain unlinked will be marked inactive, potentially affecting a wide range of financial and banking activities.
An inactive PAN may lead to disruptions in filing income tax returns, delays in refunds, higher TDS/TCS deductions, and even challenges in routine banking operations, including salary credits and account services. To avoid these complications, individuals are advised to complete the linking process before the deadline.
How to Link Aadhaar with PAN
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Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Portal.
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Click on “Link Aadhaar.”
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Enter your 10-digit PAN and 12-digit Aadhaar number.
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Note: Linking after the deadline will incur a ₹1,000 penalty.
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Select “Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax.”
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Enter your PAN and mobile number, then verify using the OTP.
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Submit the payment and the linking request.
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Return to the Link Aadhaar page.
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Re-enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and name.
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Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
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Click “Validate” to complete the process.
How to Check if Your Aadhaar and PAN Are Already Linked
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Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Portal.
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Click on “Link Aadhaar Status.”
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Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.
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Click “View Link Aadhaar Status.”
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You will see one of the following messages:
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“Your Aadhaar is already linked with PAN.”
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“Your Aadhaar–PAN linking request is pending.”
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“Aadhaar is not linked with PAN.”
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Who Is Exempt from PAN–Aadhaar Linking?
The following categories are exempt from mandatory linking:
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Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
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Individuals who are non-citizens of India
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Individuals aged 80 years or above at any time during the previous year
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Residents of Assam, Meghalaya, or Jammu & Kashmir
