With only a few hours left before the December 31 deadline, lakhs of Indian taxpayers are rushing to complete the linking of their PAN (Permanent Account Number) with Aadhaar. The Central Board of Direct
Taxes (CBDT), under the Ministry of Finance, has made this linkage mandatory for eligible citizens. Those who miss the deadline tonight may start facing serious implications from January 1, 2026.
The PAN-Aadhaar linking requirement aims to unify identity records and curb tax evasion. Anyone who has a PAN and is eligible to hold an Aadhaar number must ensure the two are connected in government records. If not done by the deadline, the Income Tax Department will declare the PAN card inoperative, meaning it will no longer be recognised for many financial and tax-related activities.
How to Link PAN with Aadhaar: Step-by-Step Guide
Visit the official Income Tax e-Filing portal at incometax.gov.in.
On the homepage, click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ option under Quick Links.
Enter your PAN number and Aadhaar number in the given fields.
If required, pay the ₹1,000 late fee using net banking, UPI, or debit card.
After payment, re-enter PAN and Aadhaar details to proceed with linking.
Verify details by entering the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
Submit the request and wait for confirmation on screen.
You can later check status by clicking ‘Link Aadhaar Status’ on the portal.
How to check if Pan and Aadhaar are already linked
Send an SMS from your registered mobile number in this format:
UIDPAN
Send it to 567678 or 56161 and wait for confirmation.
This process usually takes only a few minutes if PAN and Aadhaar details match exactly.
If you miss the deadline and still want to link later, a late fee of ₹1,000 applies before the linkage process can be completed. This penalty applies to most taxpayers, except for a specific category that received their PAN using an Aadhaar enrolment ID before a certain date.
As the day draws to a close, government sources and tax experts are urging citizens to double-check their status and act immediately if they have not yet completed the linkage.
