How To Check Your PAN–Aadhaar Link Status Online And What To Do If Your PAN Isn’t Linked

The December 31, 2025, deadline is slowly coming closer, the Income Tax Department is reminding PAN card holders to finish a task many have been putting off. Linking PAN with Aadhaar is no longer just

a formality. Miss the deadline and your PAN card will turn inoperative, effectively locking you out of several essential financial and tax-related activities. If you’re unsure whether your PAN is already linked, or you haven’t completed the process yet, here’s what you need to do and why it matters.Why PAN–Aadhaar Linking Is ImportantAccording to the Income Tax Department, PAN cards that remain unlinked after December 31, 2025 will stop working for most official purposes. This includes filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts, completing KYC, or carrying out high-value financial transactions. In short, an inoperative PAN can quickly become a headache, especially if you discover the issue at the last minute.How To Link Your PAN With AadhaarThe entire process is done online if your Aadhaar and PAN are still not linked. Enter your login credentials to access the official income tax e-filing portal. Next, navigate to your profile section and choose the Aadhaar link option. After entering your PAN and Aadhaar information, you can use the e-pay tax option to pay the relevant late fee.The system will guide you through selecting the assessment year and payment category, after which the payable amount will be auto-filled. Once the challan is generated, complete the payment via your bank’s website. After successful payment, return to the e-filing portal to finish the linking process. In most cases, the update reflects within a few working days.How To Check PAN–Aadhaar Link StatusIf you’re not sure whether your PAN is already linked, checking the status takes barely a minute. Visit the income tax e-filing portal and click on the ‘Link Aadhaar status’ option. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar numbers, submit the details, and the current status will appear on the screen.Deadline And Late FeesThe final date to link PAN with Aadhaar is December 31, 2025. Anyone who hasn’t completed the process yet will need to pay a Rs 1,000 late fee before linking.