You may already be aware that in India, in order to carry out a variety of financial operations, you must have a Permanent Account Number, or PAN card, regardless of your taxable income. To get certain benefits, financial facilities, and subsidies for some services, you must have a PAN card. All Indian citizens, even those who are minors, are eligible to apply for a PAN Card, even though PAN is mostly required for taxpayers.
Then how does one apply for a PAN Card and what does it include? You should read this article if you have wondered about these things. Continue reading to learn about offline and online methods for obtaining a PAN Card in India.
A PAN Card: What is it?
A Permanent Account Number, or PAN card, is one of the most important documents you will need in India. PAN, a commonly recognized identity and proof of address document, is made up of a special code consisting of ten letters and numbers, such as ABCDE1234F, that helps identify you as a citizen who pays taxes or as an individual receiving income. The Income Tax department can examine your financial activity and determine whether you are complying with your tax obligations with the use of your PAN.
Ways to Obtain a Pan Card?
An application must be sent in order to receive a PAN card. Your PAN card applications can be submitted online or offline. You can apply offline through agents or by going to your neighborhood PAN center, but if you choose this route, you could have to pay an administrative or service charge. As an alternative, you can apply straight for your PAN card online via the NDSL/UTIITSL website. You must fill out Form 49A (for Indian citizens) or Form 49AA (for foreign nationals) depending on your citizenship status in order to obtain your PAN Card.
Ways to Apply Offline for a PAN Card?
If you would rather go the conventional approach, you can do the following steps to apply offline for a PAN card:
- Get ‘Form 49A’ by visiting the NSDL e-Gov website.
- Provide all the necessary information on the application form, include a passport-size photo, and sign the document.
- Deliver the filled-out form to your agent handling the PAN application process, or bring it to the nearest PAN center with the required papers.
- Remit the relevant fees for the PAN card, such as the administrative/service charge and the PAN issuance charge.
- You can follow the progress of your PAN card application by using the acknowledgment number you will receive after submitting your application.
- The NSDL/UTIITSL department normally issues your PAN card within 15 days of submitting your application.
How can I obtain a PAN card online?
The websites of UTIITSL and NSDL are where you may submit your online PAN card applications. The Indian government has granted permission to both of them to issue PANs on behalf of the Income Tax Department.
How can I use the NSDL/UTIITSL website to apply online for a PAN card?
These are the procedures for use the NSDL/UTIITSL website to apply for a PAN.
- Click on the ‘New PAN’ tab on the website’s home page to start the online application procedure by visiting the official NSDL/UTIITSL website.
- If you are an Indian resident, a non-resident Indian (NRI) residing abroad while maintaining your Indian citizenship, or the bearer of an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card, select Form 49A. Those with dual citizenship who currently reside in India must select Form 49AA.
- Make sure you accurately fill out all the required information and pay the relevant costs. After completing your application, you can pay with a Demand Draft (DD) for the appropriate amount or using any of the available online payment alternatives.
- The DD must be contained with the completed form. After submitting the form, watch for the system to produce a slip with the application acknowledgement number on it.
- The final step is to use Aadhaar-OTP authentication to e-sign your application. In the event that you select DD as your preferred payment option, you will need to download the properly completed form along with any necessary paperwork, then mail it, making sure it gets to the NSDL/UTIITSL office no later than 15 days after the form is filled out.
- Your application is verified by the NSDL/UTIITSL, which then issues a PAN number after receiving it. After submitting your application, you should normally receive your PAN card in 15 days.
How Do I File for a Lost PAN Card?
Should you misplace your PAN card, you have the option to reapply via the NSDL or UTITSL websites. Just go to the website and choose “reprint” under “application type.” You would have to pay the application cost and fill out the necessary information. When you apply for a duplicate or new PAN card, it may take some time for UTITSL or NSDL to print and mail the actual card. You can fill out the application number online to monitor the status of your PAN card in the meantime.
How Can I Apply for My Lost PAN Card?
Reapplying for a PAN card via the NSDL or UTITSL websites is an option if you misplace your one. To reprint an application, simply visit the website and choose the reprint option. Both the application fee and the required information must be submitted. When you apply for a new or duplicate card, the NSDL or UTITSL may need some time to print and mail the actual PAN card. Meanwhile, by entering the application number online, you can check the status of your PAN card.
Conclusion:
The majority of financial transactions, such as utilizing mobile wallets, investing, opening bank accounts, etc., require the PAN card information. Since KYC compliance standards require the PAN card, it becomes essential. Thus, you can use the guidelines mentioned above to apply for a PAN card. In case you haven’t applied for it yet, do so promptly.