How to Check Aadhaar-PAN Link Status Online?

The Government of India has made it mandatory for most citizens to link Aadhaar with Permanent Account Number (PAN) as per Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The initial deadline was set for 30 June 2023 but was later extended to 31 May 2024. Despite this extension, for a lot of people, there still lies some confusion about whether their cards have been linked. If you are one of them, this article can guide you on how to check your Aadhaar-PAN link status so you can take action quickly.

Why is it important to check the PAN-Aadhaar link status?

If your PAN is still not linked to your Aadhaar Card, it will remain inactive, and you will not be able to use it. This can disrupt essential financial tasks like filing your Income Tax Return (ITR), opening a bank account, or even making an investment. Since the deadline for linking the cards was 31 May 2024, you will now need to pay a penalty of ₹1,000 to complete the process and reactivate your PAN Card. 

When the government introduced the linking requirement, it was free until 31 March 2022. A late fee of ₹500 was applied if you linked your PAN and Aadhaar Card between 1 April 2022 and 30 June 2023. After 1 July 2023, the penalty was increased to ₹1,000, which makes it essential to check whether your PAN-Aadhaar link was completed in time.

An inactive PAN Card can cause serious financial issues, such as: 

• You will not be able to file your ITR.
• You may not be able to invest in mutual fund schemes.
• You may struggle to complete basic banking transactions, such as high-value deposits.
• You will have to pay a higher rate of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) under Section 206AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, involving any transaction that requires PAN.
• If you are expecting a tax refund, it will be delayed until your PAN is reactivated.

Checking your PAN-Aadhaar link status ensures that you can continue using your PAN without complications. If it is inactive, completing the linking process as soon as possible will help you avoid unnecessary financial setbacks. 

It is important to note that not everyone is required to link their Aadhaar with PAN. If you are a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), an Indian citizen aged 80 years or above, or a resident of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, or Meghalaya, you do not need to complete the linking process. 

How to check if your Aadhaar is linked with PAN? - Step-by-step guide

There are multiple ways to check your Aadhaar-PAN linking status. Each of these has been explained below:

1. SMS: The first method is by sending an SMS from your phone. This method can be suitable if you do not have access to the internet. You can follow these steps to confirm the status:

• Open your messaging app and type the following message:

UIDPAN <12-digit Aadhaar number> <10-digit PAN>

• Send the SMS to 567678 or 56161.
• After some time, you will receive a response from the government service.

If your cards have been linked, you will receive a message stating:

"Aadhaar is already associated with PAN (number) in the ITD database. Thank you for using our services."

If your cards are not linked, the message will state:

"Aadhaar is not associated with PAN (number) in the ITD database. Thank you for using our services."

2. Login to the Income Tax e-filing portal: The second method to check your Aadhaar-PAN link status is by logging into the Income Tax e-filing portal. This method is suitable if you can access the internet and log into your account easily. Here’s how you can do this:

• Go to the official Income Tax e-filing portal.
• Click on ‘Login’ at the top-right corner of the page.
• Enter your User ID (PAN) and password to log in. You also need to type in the Captcha code provided on the page. 
• Once logged in, go to the ‘Profile Settings’ section on the dashboard.
• Go through the dropdown menu and select ‘Link Aadhaar’.

If your PAN and Aadhaar Card are linked, a confirmation message will appear stating that the linking has been successfully completed. However, if they are not linked, you will receive a message stating that the process is incomplete.

3. Without login into the Income Tax e-filing portal: If you prefer to check your PAN-Aadhaar link status without logging into the Income Tax e-filing portal, you can do so using the following method:

• Go to the Income Tax e-filing website.
• Go to the ‘Quick Links’ section on the homepage. 
• Click on the ‘Link Aadhaar Status’ option.
• Enter your PAN and Aadhaar Card number. 
• Click ‘View Link Aadhaar Status’.

You will receive a confirmation message if your PAN and Aadhaar Card are linked. The system will notify you that the process remains incomplete if it is not linked.

4. Via the direct link: You can also visit the direct link to check your Aadhaar-PAN linking status, using the following steps:

• Visit https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/iec/foservices/#/pre-login/link-aadhaar-status
• Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number in the required fields.
• Click on ‘View Link Aadhaar Status’.

Your status will be shown on the screen, confirming whether the linking is complete or still pending.

Conclusion

It is mandatory for taxpayers to link their PAN with Aadhaar. If you have not completed this process yet, it is essential to do so as soon as possible to avoid any complications. The methods outlined above will help you verify your linking status, ensuring your PAN remains active. Make sure to take a moment to check and confirm your status to avoid any disruptions in carrying out financial transactions.