Alert! Aadhaar-PAN Linking Deadline Is December 31; Here's How You Can Do It And Check Status Online

Those who fail to link their PAN with Aadhaar will be treated as if the individual is not holding the PAN and he/she would be unable to conduct financial transactions where quoting of PAN is mandatory.

Linking your PAN card with Aadhaar is mandatory if you want to file your income tax return. (Image: Getty)

New Delhi: Still have not linked your Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar? There are only 3 days left to do so or else your PAN will become 'inoperative'! According to a recent notification by the Income Tax department, it is mandatory for all to link the two identity document with each other before December 31, 2019. This means after the deadline, all such Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) not linked to any Aadhaar cards will be of no use. The recent announcement of IT department comes as the seventh extension of deadline from September 30, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The government has still not clarified as to what the word 'inoperative' means and whether an individual will have to apply for PAN again or it can be reactivated after linking with Aadhaar. However, we would suggest everyone not to take chance and in order to avoid any kind of discontinuity, do link the two documents before the deadline ends. Chances are, those who fail to link their PAN with Aadhaar might stand to be barred from filing income tax returns in future. It is also being said that defaulters will be treated as if the individual is not holding the PAN and he/she would be unable to conduct financial transactions where quoting of PAN is mandatory. Linking your PAN card with Aadhaar is mandatory if you want to file your income tax return. Section 139 AA (2) of the Income Tax Act states that every citizen having PAN as on July 1, 2017, and is eligible to obtain Aadhaar, must intimate his Aadhaar number to tax authorities. For those, who do not remember if they have already linked the two identity documents, here's how to check the same: Step 1: Go to https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home Step 2: Click on 'Link Aadhaar' link under Quick Links section in the left hand side of the website Step 3: Press 'Click here' hyperlink, which will direct you to new page Step 4: Fill all the required information such as PAN number, Aadhaar number, Name as per PAN and submit In case, you have already linked the two identity documents, you will be shown a confirmation message - "You PAN is linked to Aadhaar Number". Now, here's how to link your PAN with Aadhaar: Step 1: Log on to Income Tax Department e-filing portal - https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home Step 2: Go to 'Link Aadhaar' option on the left side of the website Step 3: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar numbers and your name as per AADHAAR Step 4: Tick 'I have the only year of birth in Aadhar card,' if you have only the birth year on the Aadhaar Step 5: Tick 'I agree to validate my Aadhar details with UIDAI,' if you agree to do so Step 6: Enter the captcha code on your screen Step 7: Click on 'Link Aadhaar' option to request linking of PAN and Aadhaar (NOTE: You can also check the status of the PAN-Aadhaar linking on the Income Tax Department's website.) IMPORTANT: There is also a possibility of linking failure between PAN-Aadhaar card in the following cases: 1. Mismatch in the spelling and placing of the middle and last name can cause linking failure in PAN or Aadhaar card. 2. If there is a discrepancy in the date of birth 3. In case of a gender mismatch A mismatch in PAN and Aadhaar details must be rectified immediately in case of discrepancies mentioned above. In order to correct details on Aadhaar, one will have to approach Unique Identification Authority of India. Likewise, in case of corrections in PAN, one must approach UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Ltd.