Mumbai, November 8: A Permanent Account Number (PAN) card is an important document that helps you fulfill many financial tasks. Be it filing of Income Tax Return (ITR), opening a bank account or making a financial transaction, PAN facilitates all these.
But it requires a mandatory quoting of PAN. With the finance ministry introducing inter-changeability of Aadhaar and PAN early this year, one can use PAN for purposes wherein the bio-metric card becomes an important document.
How to get PAN
There are two ways to get your PAN card. One, by filling a physical form and two, an instant PAN card, which the Income Tax department issues online. You can download and use it for various financial purposes.
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For physical PAN, you will have to attach self-attested photocopies of documents like Aadhaar, ration card, electricity bill, bank or post office passbook for furnishing identity and address proof. Note that, you will receive the card in 15 days by post.
But if you do not prefer to wait, then getting an instant or e-PAN is a good idea.
How to get an e-PAN
Getting an instant PAN is easy. You have to login to https://www.pan.utiitsl.com/PAN/ website. Rahul Singh, manager, Taxmann, says, “Instant or e-PAN is like getting an urgent passport. A taxpayer who wants an instant PAN can get it in a day.” Note that taxpayer who wants an instant PAN must have any one of the following: A valid Aadhaar number, where her mobile number must be linked in the Aadhaar database in order to receive the one time password, a valid digital signature.
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After logging on to the website, the taxpayer needs to click on “Apply for new PAN card.” You also need to opt for PAN card using “digital mode” option. You can sign the application form using your Aadhaar-based digital signature. For availing this facility, your mobile number must be linked with Aadhaar number. This is important for doing eKYC.
No need to submit physical documents
Under this option, you do not need to submit a physical copy of the required documents like proof of identity, address or proof of date of birth. Your personal data in Aadhaar will get auto–populated in your PAN application.
Also, make sure that all your personal details in Aadhaar and the one you have filled in the PAN application are the same. Any mismatch in the personal credentials will lead to rejection of your application.
After filling the online form you have to select whether you want only an e-PAN or both physical and online documents. For e-PAN with an additional hard copy you will have to pay a fee of Rs 107 and Rs 66 for just e-PAN.
