The Indian Income Tax Department has launched a free, instant e-PAN service allowing eligible applicants to obtain a legally recognised digital Permanent Account Number within minutes, streamlining the process for first-time applicants without any fee.
India’s Income Tax Department has promoted an Instant e-PAN service that lets eligible applicants receive a PAN in minutes without paying a fee, according to the department’s help pages. The digital version carries the same legal value as the physical card and can be used for tasks such as filing income tax returns and opening bank accounts.
The facility is aimed at people who have never been allotted a PAN before. Applicants need a valid Aadhaar number, a mobile number linked to Aadhaar for OTP verification and access to DigiLocker for identity checks and proof of date of birth. The service is not available to minors.
The application process begins on the income tax e-filing website, where users select the Instant e-PAN option and then choose to get a new e-PAN. After entering Aadhaar details and completing OTP verification, the system redirects the applicant to DigiLocker to confirm date of birth and KYC information. If the details match, the applicant can review the Aadhaar-linked personal data and submit the request.
On successful submission, the portal generates an acknowledgement ID for later reference. Guidance from other technology and finance publishers also notes that e-PAN can be accessed through official routes linked to the tax department, Protean and UTIITSL, although the instant Aadhaar-based route is the quickest option for first-time applicants.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
