Aadhaar-PAN Linking: Over 13.28 Crore PANs Linked With Aadhaar Till Now, Say Reports

There are about 33 crore PAN cards, while Aadhaar has been issued to about 115 crore people.

New Delhi, November 8: A total of over 13.28 crore Permanent Account Numbers (PANs) have been linked with the Aadhaar till date. As per details by official sources, about 39.5% of PANs are now linked with Aadhaar numbers. The government has made the PAN-Aadhaar linking mandatory for filing ITR (Income Tax Return) and obtaining a new Permanent Account Number (PAN) from July 1. As per PTI report, there are about 33 crore PAN cards, while Aadhaar has been issued to about 115 crore people.

In August, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended dates for linking of Aadhaar with PAN and filing income tax returns and tax audit reports. Aadhaar was to be linked with PAN by August 31, 2017, but the date for linking the two has been extended until December 31, 2017. Till August, more than 9.3 crore Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) were linked with Aadhaar. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) issues the 12-digit Unique Identity Number as well as Aadhaar card to residents whereas PAN (Permanent Account Number), a 10-digit alphanumeric number, is allotted by the Income Tax Department.

Linking of PAN with Aadhaar has been made mandatory by the government for filing tax returns, the opening of bank accounts, to avail government subsidies and welfare schemes among others. In June, the Supreme Court had upheld the validity of an Income Tax Act provision making Aadhaar mandatory for allotment of PAN cards and ITR filing. The Apex Court, had, however, put a partial stay on its implementation till a Constitution bench addressed the issue of right to privacy.  Reports state that the CBDT had in June this year said the apex court’s order had only given a “partial relief” to those who did not have an Aadhaar or an Aadhaar enrolment ID, and the taxman, hence, “will not cancel” the PAN of such individuals.