A new PAN card from UTIITSL costs ₹107 for a physical card plus e-PAN, or ₹72 if you only want the e-PAN, according to the agency’s PAN services page. Since 1 April 2026, when the Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force, applications and correction requests must be made on revised forms. The old Forms 49A and 49AA and the earlier change request form were not accepted after 31 March 2026.
The Income Tax Department authorises two agencies to process PAN applications: Protean eGov Technologies (formerly NSDL e-Gov) and UTIITSL. The department’s own e-Filing portal handles Aadhaar linking and offers an Instant e-PAN for Aadhaar holders. Here is which route to use for what.
Applying for a new PAN
You have three options:
- Instant e-PAN: listed among the Quick Links on the Income Tax e-Filing portal. It uses Aadhaar-based e-KYC, so your Aadhaar must be linked to a working mobile number.
- Online through UTIITSL or Protean: fill the new application form on their sites, pay the fee, and authenticate with Aadhaar or send documents.
- At a PAN centre: both agencies have application centres in Chennai. UTIITSL’s site has a locator, and notes that biometric Aadhaar authentication is needed at designated centres when your details do not match.
UTIITSL charges ₹1,017 when the card is dispatched outside India. Protean runs a similar online application service authorised by the Income Tax Department.
One rule worth remembering: holding more than one PAN can attract a ₹10,000 penalty, UTIITSL warns. If you have an old PAN you forgot about, surrender the extra one rather than applying again.
Correcting your PAN details
Name spelling, date of birth, father’s name, photograph and signature are changed through a change request with the same agencies, using the revised form. UTIITSL also offers a free address update through Aadhaar e-KYC. Keep these in mind:
- Make your PAN details match Aadhaar exactly before you try to link the two. Most linking failures come from a name or date of birth mismatch.
- Upload proof for the corrected detail, such as a birth certificate, Class 10 certificate or gazette notification for a name change.
- After a correction, you can order a reprint or download the updated e-PAN.
UTIITSL had told applicants with incomplete or discrepant applications to send missing documents by 30 March 2026, after which those applications would be rejected. If you had an old application pending around then, check whether it was closed and re-apply on the new form if needed.
Linking PAN with Aadhaar
The Income Tax Department’s Link Aadhaar guide says PANs not linked by 30 June 2023 became inoperative, apart from exempt categories. Linking now needs a fee first:
- On the e-Filing home page, click Link Aadhaar under Quick Links and enter your PAN and Aadhaar.
- Choose Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax and verify with an OTP.
- Select Income Tax, the assessment year, and payment type “Other Receipts (500)”, then pay through your bank.
- Return to Link Aadhaar, enter both numbers, validate, and confirm with the six-digit OTP sent to your mobile.
The portal pre-fills the amount due, so check it there. If you see “Payments details not found” after paying, the department says to wait four to five working days before trying again. If your PAN is wrongly linked to someone else’s Aadhaar, the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer has to delink it; the portal’s Know Your AO link shows who that is.
Which route to choose
- You have Aadhaar with a working mobile and only need a PAN number fast: try Instant e-PAN on the e-Filing portal.
- You want a physical card, or your details differ from Aadhaar: apply through UTIITSL or Protean with documents.
- You are an NRI or a foreign citizen: use the agencies’ separate forms for foreign applicants.
- You only need a copy of an existing PAN: download the e-PAN or order a reprint instead of applying again.
Checking status
- Linking status: Link Aadhaar Status under Quick Links on the e-Filing portal. If the request is pending with UIDAI, check again later.
- PAN validity: the Verify PAN Status quick link on the same portal.
- Application status: UTIITSL applications are tracked at trackpan.utiitsl.com; Protean applications on Protean’s site, using the acknowledgement number.
UTIITSL customer care is 033-40802999, from 9 am to 8 pm every day, and utiitsl.gsd@utiitsl.com. The e-Filing portal lists a separate helpline for PAN and TAN queries through Protean. For tax implications of an inoperative PAN, such as higher TDS, a tax adviser can help.
Quick answers
How much does a PAN card cost?
₹107 for a physical card with e-PAN through UTIITSL, or ₹72 for e-PAN only.
Can I still use Form 49A?
No. Revised forms apply from 1 April 2026, and the old forms were not accepted after 31 March 2026.
How do I check if my PAN is linked to Aadhaar?
Use Link Aadhaar Status on the Income Tax e-Filing portal with your PAN and Aadhaar.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
