Only 2 days left... If you don't do this now, you'll face problems; this card will become useless lying in your wallet!

If you haven't linked your PAN card and Aadhaar yet, be warned. The Income Tax Department has set the deadline as December 31, 2025. Failure to do so may render your PAN card 'inoperative' or useless. This is mandatory for those whose PAN cards were issued before October 1, 2024, without Aadhaar linkage. You can link them in a few easy steps on the Income Tax portal.

Imagine you go to the bank to conduct some business or want to use your new credit card on a special occasion. But as soon as you present your PAN card, the employee tells you that the card is inactive. It's easy to imagine the trouble and anxiety you'll experience at that moment. The Government of India and the Income Tax Department have repeatedly warned that if you don't link your PAN to Aadhaar by December 31, your PAN card will become nothing more than a piece of plastic.

The Income Tax Department has made it clear that completing this task by the end of this year is mandatory. Especially for those who received a new PAN after October 1, 2024, time is running out. For others, the real deadline passed a long time ago, but this is the final warning.

The sting of the penalty and the shortage of time

If you think this process is free, you're mistaken. The original deadline for linking PAN to Aadhaar passed a long time ago (May 31, 2024). Now, if you complete this process by December 31, you will have to pay a penalty of ₹1000. This penalty is for the delay you've incurred over the past several months.

Think of it this way: your PAN card is your financial identity. If this identity is erased, accessing your years of hard work and savings will become difficult. The Rs. 1000 fine might seem bothersome today, but the losses incurred after your PAN becomes inactive will be far greater.

What do you need to link?

To link your PAN and Aadhaar, you need these 3 things:

• Your correct PAN number.
• Your Aadhaar number.
• An active mobile number (for OTP verification).

An easy way to link online

Step 1: First, go to the Income Tax e-filing website (e-Filing Portal). Click on 'Link Aadhaar' in the 'Quick Links' section.

Step 2: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.

Step 3: You will then be asked to make a payment through 'e-Pay Tax'. Click on 'Continue'.

Step 4: Enter your PAN number again and verify with an OTP sent to your mobile number.

Step 5: After verification, click on 'Proceed'. Here, you will have to select the Assessment Year and 'Other Receipts' as the payment type.

Step 6: Pay the prescribed fee (which will automatically appear in the 'Others' column).

Step 7: After successful payment, log in to the portal again and go to the profile section and click on 'Link Aadhaar'.

Step 8: Enter your Aadhaar number and click on the 'Validate' button. Your request will be sent to the bank and UIDAI for verification.

Why is this necessary?

The main purpose of linking PAN and Aadhaar is to prevent fake PAN cards and curb tax evasion. If you don't do it on time, your PAN card will become 'inoperative'. This means that you will not be able to use it wherever a PAN card is mandatory (such as transactions above Rs. 50,000).

Conclusion

Time is short, and the task is important. To avoid last-minute rush and technical difficulties, link your PAN and Aadhaar today. If you are applying for a new PAN card, this process is completed automatically, but existing cardholders will have to do it themselves. Don't miss this last chance to maintain your financial independence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q-1. What is the last date to link PAN and Aadhaar?

A- The last date to link PAN and Aadhaar is December 31, 2025.

Q-2. What will happen if I don't link them?

A- Your PAN card will become 'inoperative,' preventing you from performing banking and tax-related transactions.

Q-3. Do new PAN card applicants also need to link them?

A- No, the Aadhaar linking process is automatically completed when applying for a new PAN card.

Q-4. Is there any fee for this?

A- Yes, a prescribed 'late fee' must be paid through the e-Pay Tax portal for linking within the deadline.

Q-5. How can I check my linking status?

A- You can check your status by clicking on 'Link Aadhaar Status' on the Income Tax e-filing website and entering your PAN and Aadhaar numbers.