Aadhaar-PAN Card Linking Mandatory, Says Supreme Court; No Need to Link Bank Account, Mobile Number

The deadline for linking PAN and Aadhaar March 31 2019.

The Supreme Court has made it mandatory to link PAN card and Aadhaar number in a landmark judgement today. The much-awaited judgement has come after the deadline got extended five times by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

It is, however, not mandatory for you to link your bank account and mobile number with the bank account. Similarly, schools and private companies cannot ask you for Aadhaar number. Pronouncing its verdict on constitutional validity of Aadhaar scheme and its enabling 2016 law, the Supreme Court said it is “constitutionally valid”.

The deadline for linking PAN and Aadhaar March 31 2019.

The five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, also had Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan. Three judges have penned separate judgments on the validity of Aadhaar.

5 simple steps for Aadhaar Pan Card linking

1. Log in to the website of the Income Tax Department using your username and password
2. Go to ‘Profile Setting’ and click on “Link Aadhaar” option.
3. You will see details such as date of birth and gender already filled in the box.
4. Fill in your Aadhaar card number and captcha code and submit “Link now” button-
5. A message will show Aadhaar and PAN card has been successfully linked.

In case of any mismatch in the name in your Aadhaar and PAN card the linking might not happen. In case of a minor mismatch, a One Time Password (OTP) is sent to you on the registered mobile number for the purpose of verification. If there is major correction than you first need to rectify either the mistake on your PAN card or on your Aadhaar card. You can go to the website of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)  and get the correction done through ‘Update Aadhaar Details’