Alert! Your PAN will be deactivated if you miss this deadline

PAN deactivation alert: The clock is ticking! The Income Tax Department has set a hard deadline of December 31st for linking your Permanent Account Number (PAN) with your Aadhaar card. If you miss this deadline, your PAN will be deactivated, and you could face trouble with filing your tax returns, securing loans or completing basic financial transactions.

Linking your PAN with Aadhaar is a government mandate aimed at securing financial transactions and cracking down on fraudulent activity. In a time when unauthorised access to personal data is a serious concern, this step will ensure that your identity is protected.

What happens if you don’t link PAN and Aadhaar?

Failing to link your PAN with Aadhaar by the December 31st deadline can lead to the deactivation of your PAN. Without an active PAN, you'll be unable to file your Income Tax Returns (ITR), conduct major financial transactions, apply for loans or credit cards, and may face penalties and potential legal complications. This deactivation could severely impact your financial activities and overall compliance with tax regulations.

How to link your PAN and Aadhaar

Here’s how you can link your PAN with Aadhaar in just a few clicks:

• Go to [www.incometax.gov.in](https://www.incometax.gov.in) on your browser.
• On the homepage, look for the “Quick Links” section and click on “Link Aadhaar.”
• You will be asked to enter your PAN number, Aadhaar number, and your name as per the Aadhaar card. Tick the box to provide your consent for linking the two.
• Next, click on "Link Aadhaar Status" and enter your PAN and Aadhaar details to check if the link is already successful.
• If everything matches, simply click on “Link Aadhaar” and a confirmation message will appear. Your PAN will be successfully linked to your Aadhaar, and you’ll be good to go.

Already linked? Check your status

If you’re unsure whether your PAN and Aadhaar are already linked, you can quickly verify by visiting the same portal and checking the link status. If it’s done, you'll see a confirmation message. If not, follow the simple steps above before the deadline passes.