If you still haven’t linked your PAN with Aadhaar, now’s the time. With the December 31 deadline ending tonight, lakhs of taxpayers across India are logging in to the income tax portal to finish this one essential task. Miss it, and your PAN could turn inoperative from January 1, 2026—creating avoidable headaches for everyday financial work.
The mandate, enforced by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under the Ministry of Finance, is aimed at cleaning up identity records and tightening checks on tax evasion. In simple terms: if you’re eligible for Aadhaar and you hold a PAN, the two must be linked.
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What Happens If You Don’t Link by December 31?
Failing to link Aadhaar with PAN by tonight can make your PAN inoperative. That means:
- You won’t be able to file income tax returns.
- TDS/TCS credits may not reflect properly.
- Opening bank accounts or completing high-value transactions could get stuck.
- Refunds, if any, may be delayed.
An inoperative PAN is basically a roadblock for most tax and financial activities handled by the Income Tax Department.
How to Link PAN with Aadhaar (Quick Steps)
The process is online and usually takes just a few minutes if your details match exactly.
- Visit incometax.gov.in.
- Click ‘Link Aadhaar’ under Quick Links on the homepage.
- Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.
- Pay the ₹1,000 late fee (if prompted) via UPI, net banking, or debit card.
- Re-enter PAN–Aadhaar details after payment.
- Verify using the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
- Submit and wait for the on-screen confirmation.
You can also check progress later using the ‘Link Aadhaar Status’ option.
Already Linked? Here’s How to Double-Check
Not sure if you’ve done it already? There’s a quick SMS method:
- Type:
UIDPAN <space> AadhaarNumber <space> PAN - Send it to 567678 or 56161 from your registered mobile number.
You’ll get a confirmation message if the linkage is complete.
Missed the Deadline? Expect a Fee
If you link after December 31, a ₹1,000 penalty will apply in most cases. Some exceptions exist—mainly for taxpayers who were allotted PAN using an Aadhaar enrolment ID before a specified cut-off—but most people will have to pay up before completing the process.
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Bottom Line
As the clock ticks down, tax experts and officials are urging people to check their status now and act immediately if the linkage isn’t done. It’s a small task, but ignoring it can snowball into bigger issues once your PAN goes inactive.
If you’re reading this late in the evening, grab a cup of chai, log in, and get it done—future you will be grateful.
