How to Link PAN and Aadhar Cards Online: Taxpayers across India have just one day left to link their Aadhaar with their Permanent Account Number (PAN). The deadline set by the income tax department is 31 December 2025, and failure to comply could render PAN cards inoperative, affecting a wide range of financial and government-related activities.
Before linking, taxpayers are required to pay a penalty of Rs 1,000 on the income tax e-filing portal, where applicable. However, PAN holders who obtained their cards on or after 1 October 2024 using their Aadhaar enrolment ID are exempt from paying the fee, allowing them to complete the process free of charge, according to ClearTax.
Consequences of Missing the Deadline
If PAN-Aadhaar linking is not completed by the deadline and the late fee is not paid, “your PAN card will become inoperative,” the department warned. Once inoperative, the PAN cannot be used for filing income tax returns, opening bank or demat accounts, making high-value purchases, or receiving tax refunds.
Defaulters will also face restrictions on issuing debit and credit cards, cash deposits over Rs 50,000 per day, or bank transactions exceeding Rs 10,000. Additionally, access to government services such as applying for a passport, subsidies, or opening bank accounts will be hindered. Mint earlier reported that obtaining a new PAN card may also become difficult if the old card is damaged or lost, as it is mandatory to mention the Aadhaar number when applying for a replacement.
How to Link Your PAN with Aadhaar
The linking process is straightforward. Taxpayers must log in to the income tax e-filing portal, navigate to ‘My Profile,’ and click on ‘Link Aadhaar’ under ‘Personal Details.’ After entering the PAN and Aadhaar numbers, the system will direct users to pay the applicable fee through e-pay tax. Once the payment is completed, PAN-Aadhaar linking can be successfully submitted on the portal.
If a PAN becomes inoperative after missing the deadline, it can still be reactivated within 30 days of completing the linking process. A Rs 1,000 fee will continue to apply for reactivation. Once submitted, the PAN is usually made operative within a few days.