Owing to the increasing demand for PAN card, India’s Income Tax department introduced e-PAN card service. This has made the issuing of the PAN card quicker than before. e-PAN card is issued only to individuals and not to companies, LLPs, or HUFs.
e-PAN card will only be issued to individuals who do not hold a PAN card. Although, if you have submitted any changes or corrections in your physical PAN card through online portal, you can download your e-PAN card after the changes have been made by the IT authorities.
E-PAN is allotted to the applicants after Aadhaar based verification is complete. It is important to have your Aadhaar details and access to the phone number connected to your Aadhaar card when you are applying for e-PAN card online.
Eligibility criteria to apply for e-PAN card
- Individual must be an Indian resident/ Non-resident Indian (NRI)
- Individual must have a valid Aadhaar card and a working mobile number that is connected to the Aadhaar card
- Individual must be a responsible tax paying citizen
- Should not fall under Section 160 of Indian Income Tax Act of 1961 – Should not be a trustee who receives monetary benefit on behalf of any Trust or Trustees
- Individual should not be in possession of a PAN card
How to apply for e-PAN card online?
Step 1 – Go to UTI PAN’s online portal by clicking on this link – https://www.pan.utiitsl.com/PAN/mainform.html;jsessionid=46BA19DACEB3F1545909726E5F250DBF#one
Step 2 – Click on ‘PAN Card as an Indian citizen/NRI’
Step 3 – You can choose if you want physical PAN card & -PAN card, or, only e-PAN card. If you choose physical PAN card, it will be delivered to the registered residential address that you mention on your PAN card application. e-PAN card will be sent to your registered e-mail address of e-PAN application.
Step 4 – Enter all the requested details on the online application form for e-PAN card.
Step 5 – Keep the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar card handy. Upload your Aadhaar card copy on the application. Upon submitting your application, you will receive a verification SMS on the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar card. Enter the verification details on your online form for e-PAN card.
Step 6 – Take a blank paper and sign on it. Scan it with the specifications mentioned below:
JPEG size – maximum of 10 KB
DPI type – Color
Resolution – 200
Dimensions – 2 cm X 4.5 cm
Step 7 – Attach the scan copy of your signature. With this your application for e-PAN is complete.
Step 8 – You will receive an acknowledgement SMS on your registered mobile number (The phone number given on your e-PAN application). On your e-PAN allocation, you will be informed by SMS or e-mail to your registered e-mail address.
Step 9 – You can check the status of your e-PAN application by clicking this link –
Enter the ‘Application coupon number’ that you received after submitting your e-PAN application. Enter your date of birth, Captcha and click on ‘Submit’ button.
Once your e-PAN card is issued, you can see these details on it –
- Name
- Permanent Account Number (PAN)
- Father’s name
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Signature
- QR Code
- Photograph
What are the uses of e-PAN Card?
- PAN card is mandatory to file Income Tax returns of an Indian resident/Non-resident Indian
- For any deposits above Rs.50,000 in a bank account, the person depositing cash should submit a copy of PAN card to the bank
- For withdrawals above Rs.50,000 from a bank, the withdrawer should submit a copy of PAN card to the bank
- PAN card is mandatory for filing Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)/Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
- PAN card is needed to make purchases and sales that involves transaction of a large sum of money
- PAN card is required to invest in mutual funds
- PAN card is mandatory to register a business by an individual
- PAN card is mandatory for purchase and sale of property in India
- PAN card can be used as an identity proof and address proof of an Indian