PAN Card At Risk? Link With Aadhaar Card Before This Date To Avoid Inoperative Status
Linking your PAN with Aadhaar is not just a formality anymore but it is a compulsory compliance step, and missing the deadline may lead to your PAN card becoming inoperative from 1 January 2026. Tax experts, including TaxBuddy, have warned taxpayers that failing to complete PAN-Aadhaar linking by 31 December 2025 can disrupt everything from filing your Income Tax Return to crediting your salary or SIP investments.
In a post on X, TaxBuddy wrote: "Your PAN card will be deactivated from Jan 1 2026. No ITR filing. No refunds. Even your salary credit or SIP could fail."
The advisory has once again increased urgency among taxpayers who still haven’t completed Aadhaar-PAN linking.
Who Must Link PAN with Aadhaar?
According to the Ministry of Finance notification dated 3 April 2025, every individual who received a PAN based on the Aadhaar enrolment ID before 1 October 2024 must complete Aadhaar authentication by 31 December 2025.
This requirement applies even if the PAN was allocated using an Aadhaar enrolment ID at the time of application. Once an Aadhaar number is officially issued, the final linking must be completed on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
What Happens If You Miss the PAN–Aadhaar Linking Deadline?
If PAN is not linked with Aadhaar by the due date:
Although an inoperative PAN does not seize your existing bank accounts or investments, it blocks most financial transactions until the PAN is reactivated.
Once you link Aadhaar later, the PAN usually becomes operational again within 30 days.
Who Can Link PAN and Aadhaar?
The Income Tax Department has clarified that individual taxpayers registered or unregistered can link Aadhaar with PAN via the e-Filing portal.
How to Link Your PAN with Aadhaar (Step-by-Step Guide)
Follow these steps to complete PAN-Aadhaar linking:
Essential Things to Remember
In a post on X, TaxBuddy wrote: "Your PAN card will be deactivated from Jan 1 2026. No ITR filing. No refunds. Even your salary credit or SIP could fail."
The advisory has once again increased urgency among taxpayers who still haven’t completed Aadhaar-PAN linking.
Who Must Link PAN with Aadhaar?
According to the Ministry of Finance notification dated 3 April 2025, every individual who received a PAN based on the Aadhaar enrolment ID before 1 October 2024 must complete Aadhaar authentication by 31 December 2025.
This requirement applies even if the PAN was allocated using an Aadhaar enrolment ID at the time of application. Once an Aadhaar number is officially issued, the final linking must be completed on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
What Happens If You Miss the PAN–Aadhaar Linking Deadline?
If PAN is not linked with Aadhaar by the due date:
- PAN becomes inoperative from 1 January 2026
- You cannot file or verify your ITR
- Refunds will be withheld
- Pending returns will not be processed
- TDS/TCS will be deducted at higher rates
- TDS/TCS credits may not appear in Form 26AS
- You cannot complete bank KYC updates
- No new investments, share trades, or mutual fund purchases allowed
- NPS, EPF, mutual funds, or bank requests may be rejected
Although an inoperative PAN does not seize your existing bank accounts or investments, it blocks most financial transactions until the PAN is reactivated.
Once you link Aadhaar later, the PAN usually becomes operational again within 30 days.
Who Can Link PAN and Aadhaar?
The Income Tax Department has clarified that individual taxpayers registered or unregistered can link Aadhaar with PAN via the e-Filing portal.
How to Link Your PAN with Aadhaar (Step-by-Step Guide)
Follow these steps to complete PAN-Aadhaar linking:
- Visit the official Income Tax Department website.
- Select “Link Aadhaar” on the homepage.
- Enter PAN, Aadhaar number, and mobile number.
- Verify using the OTP sent to your mobile.
- If your PAN is already inoperative, pay the ₹1,000 linking fee first.
- Re-check your Aadhaar-PAN linking status under “Quick Links → Link Aadhaar Status.”
Essential Things to Remember
- Ensure PAN and Aadhaar details (name, date of birth, mobile) match.
- NRIs, super senior citizens (80+), and residents of certain states may be exempt so verify before proceeding.
- Government websites often slow down close to deadlines so link early to avoid issues.
- Save a screenshot or acknowledgement for future records.
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