Link Aadhaar with PAN: Process, Fee & Status
Linking your 12-digit Aadhaar with your 10-character PAN is mandatory for most Indian taxpayers. An unlinked PAN can become inoperative — blocking ITR filing, refunds, and higher-rate TDS relief. Linking is done on the Income Tax e-filing portal, and late linking now carries a ₹1,000 fee.
Step 0: Check whether you are already linked
Before paying anything, check your status: on incometax.gov.in, use the Link Aadhaar Status quick link (no login needed), enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, and view the result. Many people discover they were linked years ago.
How to link Aadhaar with PAN — step by step
Pay the ₹1,000 fee
On incometax.gov.in, go to e-Pay Tax and pay ₹1,000 under Challan ITNS 280 (select the option for PAN-Aadhaar linking fee). Keep the challan receipt — the portal needs the payment to register before linking.
Open the Link Aadhaar request
Use the Link Aadhaar quick link on the e-filing homepage (no login required). Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.
Validate and submit
Confirm your details. Your name, date of birth, and gender must match on both PAN and Aadhaar — mismatches are the most common reason linking fails. Verify with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number and submit.
Wait for UIDAI validation
UIDAI validates the details, usually within a few hours to a few days. Once validated, the PAN becomes operative — typically within about 30 days of intimation.
If your name does not match on both
Linking fails when the name (or date of birth) differs between PAN and Aadhaar. Fix it on either side first: update PAN details via the NSDL/Protean or UTIITSL portal, or update Aadhaar demographics at a Seva Kendra / via the myAadhaar portal, then retry linking once both match exactly.
Who is exempt from linking
- Residents of Assam, Meghalaya, and Jammu & Kashmir (subject to conditions)
- Non-resident Indians (NRIs) as defined under the Income-tax Act
- Individuals aged 80 years or more during the relevant year
- Persons who are not citizens of India
What happens if PAN stays inoperative
- You cannot file your ITR or claim pending refunds (no interest is paid on delayed refunds either)
- Higher TDS/TCS rates apply on your income
- Banks and financial institutions may restrict KYC-linked transactions
- Mutual fund and demat transactions can be blocked
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for most PAN holders allotted a PAN on or before 1 July 2017 who are eligible for Aadhaar, unless they fall in an exempt category (Assam/Meghalaya/J&K residents, NRIs, those aged 80+, non-citizens).
₹1,000, paid through the e-Pay Tax facility on the income tax portal before the linking request is processed.
On incometax.gov.in, use the “Link Aadhaar Status” quick link and enter your PAN and Aadhaar number — no login required.
Pay the ₹1,000 fee via e-Pay Tax, submit the linking request through “Link Aadhaar”, and wait for UIDAI validation. The PAN generally becomes operative within about 30 days of successful intimation.
The most common cause is a name, date-of-birth, or gender mismatch between PAN and Aadhaar records. Correct the details on either document first, then retry.