PAN Card: If you want a PAN card, you don’t need to spend money or wait long. The Income Tax Department offers a special facility that lets you obtain a PAN number online from the comfort of your home. Once obtained, you can use it to open a bank account, file income tax returns, and carry out transactions exceeding ₹50,000—all of which require a PAN card.
This facility is particularly useful for those who do not yet possess a PAN card. Previously, obtaining a PAN card involved a lengthy application process and waiting for the physical card to arrive by post. Now, the Income Tax Department has digitised the issuance process, allowing you to apply for an instant PAN card online. This facility is free.
Who can apply for an instant e-PAN?
The e-PAN facility is available only to individuals who do not currently hold a PAN card. Applicants must possess a valid 12-digit Aadhaar number and be at least 18 years of age. Additionally, the applicant’s mobile number must be linked to their Aadhaar number, as an OTP is sent to this number for verification during the application process.
What is required?
To apply for an instant e-PAN, you need a valid Aadhaar number, a mobile number linked to that Aadhaar, access to DigiLocker, and valid documents verifying your date of birth. DigiLocker can verify your date of birth and KYC details. For date-of-birth verification, you need documents such as a Class 10 mark sheet or a birth certificate.
How to get a PAN card from home
First, visit the Income Tax Department’s portal.
Then, select the ‘Instant e-PAN’ option found in the ‘Quick Links’ section on the home page. Next, click on “Get New e-PAN” and enter your Aadhaar number.
Then, click on the “Continue” option.
Complete the subsequent steps by entering the OTP.
What to do in DigiLocker
After OTP verification, the system may redirect you to DigiLocker, where you must grant permission to verify your date of birth and KYC details. You will need to authorise sharing documents as proof of date of birth. If an email ID is linked to your Aadhaar, you can also validate it, though email verification is not mandatory.
Check these details before submitting the application
Following verification, details such as your name, date of birth, and photograph—as recorded in your Aadhaar—will appear on the screen. Carefully review all these details before applying for the instant e-PAN; submit the application only if the information is correct. Once you submit the application successfully, the screen will generate an acknowledgement number. Keep this number safe for future reference.
Know the fee for e-PAN
There is no fee for availing the instant e-PAN facility. It is completely free, and eligible applicants can apply from home using a smartphone or laptop.
e-PAN differs from a physical PAN card
An e-PAN is a valid PAN, and it serves the same purpose as a physical PAN card. So, if you only need the PAN number, you don’t have to wait for the physical card to arrive.