As PAN and Aadhaar linking deadline ends on 31st December 2025, a cut-off set by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), under the Ministry of Finance. Linking these two cards keeps PAN cards operative for tax filings and key financial tasks.
Millions of taxpayers are rushing to complete the process online with the deadline around the corner, but some may not be sure where to start, how it works or what documents they need.
What Is PAN-Aadhaar Linking?
PAN Card is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier issue by the Income Tax Department.
It’s use for tax returns, high-value transactions, opening bank accounts and more.
While, Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number issue by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), based on biometric and demographic data.
Aadhaar serves as a universal identity proof.
Government mandates PAN-Aadhaar linking to minimise tax evasion, ensure a unified identity ecosystem and reduce fraudulent use of multiple PANs.
Unlinked PANs risk being treat as invalid, which can affect tax filings and refund claims.
How to Link PAN Card and Aadhaar Card via Income Tax e-Filing Portal?
Follow These Steps:
- Visit the Income Tax e-filing website.
- Under the Quick Links section, click Link Aadhaar.
- Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and name as per Aadhaar.
- Click on Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax to proceed with the payment.
- Confirm your PAN one more time, and add your Aadhaar-register mobile number.
- You will receive an OTP.
- Submit it to the redirect page.
- That’s it, your process is complete.
Make sure the name, date of birth and gender on your PAN and Aadhaar match exactly.
Minor mismatches (like abbreviations or spelling differences) may lead to linking failures.
How to Link PAN Card and Aadhaar Card via SMS?
Follow These Steps:
- Type this message, following the exact format, from your register mobile number,
UIDPAN<space><12-digit Aadhaar><space><10-digit PAN> - Send this SMS to 567678 or 56161 from your register number
- You will receive an acknowledgement SMS after sending this.
Important Checks Before Linking PAN and Aadhaar Card
- Before you submit, make sure the names, date of birth, and gender match exactly on both PAN and Aadhaar.
- Make sure your Aadhaar is active and valid, and the mobile number link to Aadhaar is operational (required for OTP validation).
- Mismatch issues are among the top reasons why linking attempts fail, and correcting them early saves time.
If you don’t link your PAN and Aadhaar before 31st December 2025, your PAN could be treat as inoperative.
An inoperative PAN may lead to fail filing of income tax returns, complications with tax refunds or high-value financial transactions, higher Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) under certain conditions, and problems with opening bank accounts, mutual fund accounts or making large purchases.
