The deadline for linking PAN (Permanent Account Number) cards with Aadhaar cards has recently expired, with the last date set on June 30, 2023.
As per the government’s announcement, PAN cards that have not been linked by this date will become inactive.
However, several individuals encountered difficulties in downloading the challan after payment of the required fee while attempting to link both cards.
In response, the Income Tax Department issued a clarification through a tweet late on Friday night, providing much-needed relief to affected individuals.
Key Points from the Tax Department’s Clarification:
The Income Tax Department shared that the challan payment status for Aadhaar-PAN linking can be checked under the ‘e-pay tax’ tab on the portal after logging in.
This information is particularly relevant for individuals who have made the payment for linking PAN with Aadhaar, received consent, but have not successfully completed the linking process by June 30, 2023.
The tax department assured that such cases would be taken into consideration before deactivating the PAN.
Furthermore, the tax department’s tweet stated, “There is no need to download the challan receipt for linking PAN with Aadhaar.
An email with a copy of the challan has already been sent to the PAN holder as soon as the PAN holder completes the payment.”
Linking PAN and Aadhaar Beyond the Deadline:
Individuals who were unable to link their Aadhaar and PAN by June 30, 2023, but still wish to link them at a later date, have the option to inform the tax authorities and pay a fine.
By following this procedure, they can link their PAN and Aadhaar even after the deadline has passed.
It is important to note that the law mandating the linking of PAN with Aadhaar came into effect on July 1, 2017.
Until March 31 of the previous year, no penalty was imposed for not linking both cards.
As the Income Tax Department clarifies the process and provides solutions for challan-related challenges, individuals can take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the PAN-Aadhaar linking requirement, facilitating smoother taxation procedures.
