PAN-Aadhaar Linking: Last Date August 31, Deadline Unlikely to Change

The Income Tax department warned taxpayers that their IT returns will not be processed until the linking of both the identification proofs- the Aadhaar with PAN is done.

New Delhi, August 28: Tax payers will have to link their Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) with Aadhaar number on or before August 31 as the income tax department is unlikely to extend the deadline beyond the stipulated date. Earlier this month, the Income Tax department warned taxpayers that their IT returns will not be processed until the linking of both the identification proofs- the Aadhaar with PAN is done. The Supreme Court verdict holding privacy as a fundamental right has not stopped quoting of Aadhaar for various schemes as well as the filing of income tax returns. The amended income tax rules have made quoting the 12-digit identification number or Aadhaar enrolment ID compulsory while applying for PAN.

Earlier in July, the Income Tax department extended the last date for filing of income tax returns (ITRs) for the financial year 2016-17 to August 5. The original deadline was July 31, 2017. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policy-making body of the department has extended the last date for citizens to link their Aadhaar number with their Permanent Account Number to August 31. It said that for the purpose of e-filing of returns (by August 5), it would be sufficient to quote Aadhaar, on the e-filing website of the department.  “The actual linking of PAN with Aadhaar can be done subsequently, but any time before August 31, 2017,” the CBDT had said.

Actual linking of PAN with Aadhaar can be done subsequently, but any time before 31st August, 2017.

— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 31, 2017

However, the returns will not be processed until the linkage of Aadhaar with PAN is done.

— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 31, 2017

Aadhaar number is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to a resident of India, PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number allotted by the I-T department to a person, firm or entity. Linking of PAN with Aadhaar is mandatory for filing tax returns, the opening of bank accounts, to avail government subsidies and welfare schemes among others. The Supreme Court verdict on privacy is a fundamental right has no bearing on the requirement, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said on Friday.  A senior Income Tax Department officer informed that more than 9.3 crore Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) have been linked with Aadhaar till date.

With the deadline to link Aadhaar and PAN on August 31 is just around the corner, here’s how you can do:

1. Visit www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in and click on ‘Link Aadhaar’ option that is on the left side of the website.
2. Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number and Name as per Aadhaar card and Click on ‘Link Aadhaar’. After verification from Unique Identification Authority of India the linking will be confirmed.
3. Your personal details including name, date of birth and gender will already mentioned there if you are a registered user. All you need to do is verify the details on screen with ones mentioned on your Aadhaar card. If the details match, enter your Aadhaar card number and captcha code and click on the “Link now” button.
4. On completion of the process, a pop-up message will inform you about successful linkage.
5. If you are not already registered, first register on the Income tax e-filing portal (http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in) and sign-in to the portal by entering your log-in ID, password and date of birth. A pop-up window will appear after logging in to the site, assisting you to link your Aadhaar and PAN.

In May, the I-T department had issued an advertisement guiding the tax payers that an Aadhaar can now be linked with their PAN through SMS-based facility where a taxpayer can link Aadhar with PAN by sending an SMS to either 567678 or 56161. Beginning July 1, the linking of Aadhaar number with the PAN (Permanent Account Number) of taxpayers has been made mandatory for the filing of ITR. The Ministry of Finance has said that Aadhaar-PAN linking can be done till August 31 and the return will be processed only after the linking is done. For e-filing return, “it is sufficient to quote Aadhaar or acknowledgment No. for having applied for Aadhaar in e-filing website”, the ministry said. As per reports, the Income Tax Department has already received over two crore returns filed electronically.