The Income Tax Department has issued a final reminder to PAN card holders to link their PAN with Aadhaar before the deadline of December 31, 2025. Individuals who fail to complete the mandatory linking process by this date will have their PAN cards rendered inoperative, which can disrupt key financial and tax-related transactions.

Who Needs to Link PAN with Aadhaar

The linking requirement applies to existing PAN holders who were allotted PAN on or before July 1, 2017. Taxpayers who received their PAN after October 1, 2024, using their Aadhaar enrolment ID, are exempt from the late fee and can complete the linking process free of charge until the deadline.

The Income Tax Department has emphasized that the PAN-Aadhaar link is mandatory for taxpayers. Those who fail to comply may face disruption in PAN-related services, including filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts, investing in securities, or completing other financial transactions.

Deadline and Late Fee

• Deadline: December 31, 2025
• Late fee for non-linking: ₹1,000 (applies to PANs allotted before October 1, 2024)
• Exemption: PANs allotted post-October 1, 2024, using Aadhaar enrolment ID

The department has urged taxpayers not to wait until the last minute to complete the linking process.

How to Link PAN with Aadhaar

Taxpayers can link their PAN with Aadhaar through the Income Tax e-Filing portal by following these steps:

1. Visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal and log in using your credentials.
2. Navigate to the Profile section and click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ option.
3. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar numbers and select ‘Continue to pay through e-pay tax’.
4. Choose the relevant assessment year and select the type of payment as ‘Other Receipts’.
5. The applicable amount (₹1,000 late fee if applicable) will be pre-filled; click Continue.
6. A challan will be generated; select the payment mode and complete the payment via the redirected bank portal.
7. After payment, return to the e-Filing portal to complete the linking process.

How to Check Aadhaar-PAN Link Status

To verify whether your PAN is already linked with Aadhaar:

1. Visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
2. Click on ‘Link Aadhaar Status’.
3. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar details.
4. Submit the information to see the current link status.

Correcting Mismatched PAN or Aadhaar Details

Sometimes, discrepancies between PAN and Aadhaar details may prevent linking. Taxpayers can resolve mismatches by:

• Visiting the UIDAI portal to update Aadhaar details.
• Updating PAN details through Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL.
• Opting for biometric verification at authorized PAN service centres if mismatches persist.

Aadhaar Verification for New PAN Applicants

For new PAN applicants, Aadhaar-based verification is mandatory at the time of application. This measure eliminates the need for a separate linking process later.

Importance of Linking

The Income Tax Department has reiterated that linking PAN with Aadhaar ensures seamless financial operations and compliance with tax laws. An unlinked PAN will not be valid for:

• Filing income tax returns
• Opening bank accounts
• Investing in financial instruments
• Carrying out large financial transactions

The department has urged taxpayers to complete the PAN-Aadhaar linking well before the December 31 deadline to avoid penalties and disruptions.

Final Reminder

With just three days remaining, the Income Tax Department warns that procrastination could lead to avoidable fines and inconvenience. Taxpayers are strongly advised to verify their Aadhaar-PAN link status and complete the linking process immediately if not already done.

Failing to link the PAN with Aadhaar on time could make the PAN inoperative, affecting essential financial and tax services and creating avoidable hurdles during the upcoming financial year.