How to Apply for an Instant PAN Card: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Applying for an instant PAN card online is different from applying for an Aadhaar card as it does not require you to validate your biometrics. If you're searching for "instantly applying for pan online" or "online pan card application", your search ends here.

In this blog, we take you through the online instant PAN card application which is a simple, easy and hassle-free process.

What is a PAN Card?

A Permanent Account Number or PAN is how the Income Tax Department (ITD) identifies tax-paying entities. It is a 10-digit unique alpha-numeric identifier containing alphabets and numbers. A PAN card is a laminated physical card approved by the Income Tax Department (ITD) and has details like your PAN number, date of birth, signature and father’s or spouse's name.

To have a PAN, you or a tax-paying entity must be:

• An Indian resident or
• An NRI
• A Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI)
• A Hindu Undivided Family or a HUF
• A company
• A charitable trust

Why Should You Have a PAN Card?

You need to quote your PAN when you open a bank account. You also need to quote it for transactions considered high value by the income tax department, like buying or selling a car or property worth more than five lakh rupees, opening a fixed deposit or depositing cash in a bank worth more than ₹50,000.

So, if you are an adult Indian resident citizen, you certainly do need a PAN.

Does Having a PAN Card mean I will have to pay tax?

You should note that having a PAN does not automatically mean that you have to pay income tax. You pay income tax if your income falls under the taxable brackets stipulated by the Income Tax Department. And the PAN helps the ITD to keep track of your income, thus helping them track any tax evasion.

Prerequisites For Instant e-PAN

• You should hold a valid Aadhaar card that is not linked to any other PAN.
• You should have your mobile number registered and linked with your Aadhaar card.
• You should not have more than one PAN as it may attract a penalty of ₹10,000.

Now, let’s look at the different ways in which you can apply for a PAN online.

Apply for an Instant e-PAN Card through the Income Tax India e-Filing website

Follow these quick and simple steps to apply for an e-PAN card online. These steps should take you less than 10 minutes:

The process is simple and quick if you have your prerequisites in place. You can quote your e-PAN wherever necessary.

However, if you need a physical PAN card, there are two paths you can follow for your online application:

• UTIITSL portal
• NSDL portal

Apply for a Physical PAN Card through the UTIISL website

A quick search for “UTI PAN card online apply”, might land you on the UTI Infrastructure and Technology Services Limited (UTIITSL) website. Unit Trust of India or UTI was established and incorporated by the government of India in 1963 to provide services to the investors of UTI mutual fund schemes. It is counted amongst the biggest financial service providers in India.

The Income Tax department of India has entrusted UTIITSL to manage the process of PAN application and delivery of the physical PAN card to the applicant.

Steps To Apply for a PAN Card Through UTIITSL

If you have chosen the physical PAN card option, it will be dispatched to your address as stated in your application form. The e-PAN Card will be sent to the e-mail ID you mentioned in the application form.

Apply for a Physical PAN Card through the NSDL website

National Securities Depository Limited or NSDL is an Indian central securities depository based out of Mumbai. The NSDL Tax Information Network or TIN was set up to be a repository of nationwide tax-related information for the Income Tax Department. TIN aims to modernise direct tax-related services in line with the digital age. NSDL e-governance which handles income tax-related information, is now called Protean eGov Technologies Limited. You can apply for a PAN card via the NSDL website.

Steps To Apply for a PAN Card Through NSDL TIN

List of Documents Required to Apply for a PAN Card

1. Proof of Identity
2. Proof of Date of Birth
3. Proof of Address

Here is a detailed list of documents required for a PAN Card application.

Charges For a Printed PAN Card

• There are applicable charges for making a new PAN card application. You will have to pay ₹93 plus Goods and Services Tax (GST) if you have entered a communication address within India. If you have entered a communication address outside of India, the charges are ₹864 plus GST.
• The payment of the application fee can be made through credit or debit card, demand draft, or net banking. Once your payment is accepted and the application is approved, you can send the supporting documents through courier or post to NSDL or UTITSL. Your PAN application will be processed by NSDL or UTITSL once your documents are received and verified.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the process of applying for a PAN card online has made the task much simpler and hassle-free compared to the traditional method. The PAN card serves as a unique identifier for tax-paying entities and is essential for various financial transactions. Whether you choose the instant e-PAN option or apply through the UTIITSL or NSDL portals, the online application process can be completed quickly with the right prerequisites in place. While a physical PAN card incurs additional charges, the option for a free PDF format is also available. Overall, the online application process has made obtaining a PAN card more convenient and efficient for individuals and entities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I get an e-PAN card online?

e-PAN cards are online generated PAN cards which are accessible via the Income Tax website. PAN applicants who have an Aadhaar number from UIDAI and have linked their mobile number with Aadhaar can apply for instant e-PAN

2. How can I get an e-PAN in 10 minutes?

e-PAN cards are available for taxpayers who haven't been allotted a PAN yet but have an Aadhaar number. If you have an Aadhaar, are not a minor, and haven't been allotted a PAN yet, here's what you can do for your e-PAN -

a. Generate New e-PAN

b.  Update PAN details as per Aadhaar e-KYC

c. Check status of pending e-PAN request / Create e-Filing Portal account / Download e-PAN

d. Download e-PAN – Post Login

e. On the View / Download e-PAN page, you will be able to see the status of your e-PAN request. In case the new e-PAN has been generated and allotted, click View e-PAN to view or Download e-PAN to download a copy.

You can check out a detailed guide here and generate an instant e-PAN today.

3. How many days it will take to get PAN Card?

While you can receive your PAN number instantly within 48 hours, it typically takes 15-20 days for the physical card to be delivered to your address.

4. Is PAN card online free?

Yes, an online PAN card is free of cost and has an easy interface to make PAN generate as seamless as possible.

5. How can I get instant PAN card?

An instant PAN card can be generated online, on the Income Tax website. Here is how can go ahead with this.

6. Which is better e-PAN card or PAN card?

An e-PAN is only a pre-login service which is attached to your actual PAN. In the case that you don't get your physical PAN, your e-PAN comes in handy with its instant issue feature. That being said, an e-PAN can also be used in place of the PAN.