Question 1

Will I get a new PAN number after a correction?

Accepted Answer

No. A correction updates the department's record and sends you a fresh card for the PAN you already have. The number is yours for life. If a second number was issued to you by mistake at some point, that is a separate matter and the extra one must be given back.

Question 2

What proof do I need to change my name?

Accepted Answer

It depends on why it changed. A marriage certificate if it changed on marriage. A gazette notice for a legal name change. For a business, the certificate or deed showing the new name. In every case it helps if your Aadhaar already shows the new name, since the two records have to agree.

Question 3

My date of birth is wrong and Aadhaar linking keeps failing.

Accepted Answer

Fix whichever record is actually wrong, and it is not always the PAN. If your birth certificate or school certificate agrees with your Aadhaar, then the PAN is corrected. If the Aadhaar is the wrong one, that has to be fixed first. We look at your papers before deciding which way round it goes.

Question 4

Who needs a PAN?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who earns enough to pay tax, and anyone who files a tax return. Every company, LLP, firm, trust and society needs one in its own name, even before it starts working. You also need it to open a bank account, to buy or sell property above a set value, and to put in large amounts of cash. Most businesses need it before anything else.

Question 5

How long does a PAN application take?

Accepted Answer

If the form is clean, the e-PAN usually comes in three to seven working days. The printed card follows by post. Forms checked using Aadhaar move faster than ones where papers have to be posted. If the department asks a question about a paper or a signature, it takes longer.

Question 6

Is the e-PAN as good as the printed card?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The e-PAN is a signed PDF from the Income Tax Department, and it counts as proof of your PAN everywhere the card does. Banks, registrars and government websites all take it. The printed card is just easier to carry.

Question 7

What is instant e-PAN through Aadhaar?

Accepted Answer

It is a facility on the income tax website that gives a person a PAN in minutes, using Aadhaar and an OTP. It only works if you have never had a PAN before, your Aadhaar is linked to a working mobile number, and your Aadhaar details are complete and correct. If any of that is not true, you have to apply the normal way.

Question 8

Can I have two PAN cards?

Accepted Answer

No. One person or business may hold only one PAN. Holding two can bring a penalty under the law. People usually end up with two by applying again instead of asking for a correction. If you find you have two, you must give one back. Ignoring it is not safe.

Question 9

What happens if my PAN is not linked to my Aadhaar?

Accepted Answer

Your PAN can stop working. While it is not working, you cannot file a return, you do not get refunds, and more tax is cut from your income than usual. It is not cancelled, and it starts working again once the link goes through. But the trouble in between is real.

Question 10

Does a PAN ever expire?

Accepted Answer

No. You get it once and it lasts for life. It does not change when you move house, change your name, or change what your business does. The only reasons a PAN changes are giving back a duplicate, or a business changing into a completely different kind of legal body.

Question 11

My name changed after marriage. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Ask for a correction, not a new PAN. Your number stays the same and you get a fresh card with the new name. You will need proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate, a gazette notice, or a passport that already has the new name. Do it soon, because a name that does not match your Aadhaar causes trouble with linking and with banks.

Question 12

What is the difference between Form 93 and Form 94?

Accepted Answer

Form 93 is for Indian citizens and for businesses formed in India. Form 94 is for foreign citizens and businesses formed outside India, and it asks for some extra details. Using the wrong one gets your form sent back, so we settle which one applies before filling anything in.

Question 13

I have lost my card. Do I get the same number back?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A reprint gives you a new card for the PAN you already have. The number does not change, and you are not applying again from the start. You need the PAN number itself. A copy of the old card helps but is not a must. If some details also need fixing, both can be done together.

Question 14

Why do PAN applications get rejected?

Accepted Answer

Almost always because something does not match. The name, the date of birth or the parent's name on the form does not agree exactly with your Aadhaar or the proof you attached. Even an initial written in full in one place and short in another is enough. After that, the common reasons are an unsigned form, a signature outside the box, a photo that does not meet the rules, and address proof in someone else's name.

PAN CORRECTION

Process for Changes / Correction in PAN Card

Lost or Correction in PAN Card