The government has announced that the deadline to link your PAN and Aadhaar cards is December 31, 2025. If anyone fails to complete this linking by the deadline, their PAN card will become inoperative.
An inoperative PAN means you cannot file income tax returns, and all tax-related work will stop.
A PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department. It is used to track a person’s financial and tax-related transactions. If your PAN becomes inactive, it can cause major problems.
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Why Linking PAN and Aadhaar Is Important
The CBDT has stated that anyone who received their Aadhaar before October 1, 2025, must link it with their PAN by December 31, 2025. If they do not, the Income Tax Department will suspend all related services.
If your PAN is inoperative:
You cannot file income tax returns.
Pending returns will not be processed.
No refunds will be issued.
Any defective returns under process will be halted.
TDS/TCS will be deducted at a higher rate because your PAN will be treated as invalid.
Therefore, the government is repeatedly advising everyone to link their PAN and Aadhaar on time.
Step-by-Step: How to Link PAN and Aadhaar
This method is for people who do not want to log in or do not have an account on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
Visit the Website
Go to the official Income Tax Department website:
www.incometax.gov.in
Click on “Link Aadhaar”
On the homepage, under Quick Links, click on Link Aadhaar.
Enter Your Details
Fill in the following information:
PAN number
Aadhaar number
Name as per Aadhaar
Tick the checkbox “I agree to validate my Aadhaar details” and click Validate.
Pay Penalty (If Required)
If you are linking after the deadline, a ₹1,000 penalty must be paid.
Go to:
e-Pay Tax → AY 2025-26 → Other Receipts (500) → Fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar
Complete the payment. You will receive an invoice.
Submit the Linking Request
Return to the Link Aadhaar page and again enter your:
PAN
Aadhaar
Mobile number
You will receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter the OTP to complete the linking process.
How to Check If Your PAN and Aadhaar Are Linked
Visit www.incometax.gov.in
Click Link Aadhaar Status under Quick Links
Enter PAN and Aadhaar numbers
Click View Link Aadhaar Status
You will see one of these messages:
Linked: PAN and Aadhaar are successfully linked
Not Linked: You need to link them
Pending: Verification with UIDAI is still in progress
Link Before the Deadline
The government has increased the penalty to emphasize that linking PAN and Aadhaar is now mandatory. Make sure to complete the process on time to avoid complications.