How to Link PAN with Aadhaar: Online Steps, Fee, Status Check and Inoperative PAN (2026)
The exact steps to link your PAN with Aadhaar on the income-tax e-filing portal, the fee, how to check status, what an inoperative PAN means, and who is exempt. Last verified October 2026.
How-To Guide · Income Tax
To link your PAN with Aadhaar, check your link status on the income-tax e-filing portal, pay the Rs 1,000 fee through e-Pay Tax, then submit the Link Aadhaar request with your PAN, Aadhaar number and an OTP. If the two are not linked, your PAN becomes inoperative. That means higher TDS and TCS, refunds held back, and pending returns not processed. This guide gives the steps in order, the fee, and who is exempt.
- How: check status, pay the Rs 1,000 fee via e-Pay Tax, submit Link Aadhaar with PAN, Aadhaar and OTP, then verify.
- If not linked: the PAN becomes inoperative, with higher TDS and TCS, refunds held and returns not processed.
- Exempt: residents of Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir, non-residents, people aged 80 and above, and non-citizens.
- Official site: incometax.gov.in. Last verified October 2026.
01Why linking PAN with Aadhaar matters
Linking PAN with Aadhaar is a legal requirement for most PAN holders, and skipping it has a real cost. An unlinked PAN becomes inoperative, so it stops working for tax purposes even though the card still exists.
What goes wrong with an unlinked PAN
Banks, employers and other payers deduct tax at higher rates when your PAN is inoperative. Your income-tax refund is not paid until the PAN is made operative again. A return you have already filed may not be processed. You may also face trouble with KYC at banks and brokers that need a working PAN.
Why people miss it
Many people think the old deadline passed and the matter is closed. In fact, the link can still be made today. The difference is that a late link carries a fee, and the PAN stays inoperative until the link request is processed.
An unlinked PAN is not cancelled. It is inoperative, and you can make it work again by paying the fee and linking it with Aadhaar.
02Before you start: what you need
Keep four things ready before you begin, so you do not have to restart midway.
- Your PAN and your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
- A mobile number linked to Aadhaar. The OTP goes to this number, so it must be active and with you.
- Matching details. Your name, date of birth and gender should match on both PAN and Aadhaar. If they do not, fix the mismatch first (see common problems below).
- A way to pay Rs 1,000 online. Net banking, debit card or UPI through the e-Pay Tax option works.
If you do not yet have a PAN, see how to apply for a PAN card online. A PAN issued today is generally linked to Aadhaar at the time of application.
03Steps to link PAN with Aadhaar online
You can link PAN with Aadhaar on the income-tax e-filing portal in five steps. The official site is incometax.gov.in.
Step 1: Check your link status
On the portal home page, open the Link Aadhaar Status option. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number. If it says the PAN is already linked, you are done. If not, go to step 2.
Step 2: Pay the fee
Open e-Pay Tax on the portal and enter your PAN and mobile number. Choose the Income Tax payment type, then the option for fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar. Pay Rs 1,000 online. Keep the challan receipt. Payment can also be made through the NSDL (Protean) tax payment site.
Step 3: Wait for the payment to reflect
The payment can take a few days to show against your PAN. If you submit the link request too early, it may be rejected for no payment found. Wait, then continue.
Step 4: Submit the Link Aadhaar request
Open Link Aadhaar on the portal. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, then the name as written on your Aadhaar. Tick the consent boxes and continue. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile and submit.
Step 5: Verify the result
Open Link Aadhaar Status again after some time. When the request is accepted, the status shows the PAN as linked. An inoperative PAN is generally made operative within about 30 days of the link request.
Keep your proof
Save the challan receipt, the acknowledgement of your link request and a screenshot of the final status. You may need them if a bank, employer or the department raises a question later.
04How to check PAN Aadhaar link status
You can check PAN Aadhaar link status without logging in. Use the Link Aadhaar Status option on the e-filing portal home page.
- Enter your PAN and your Aadhaar number.
- Select View Link Aadhaar Status.
- Read the message. It says either that your PAN is already linked, that the request is pending, or that it is not linked.
If a request is pending after payment, wait. If it says not linked and you have already paid, check that the payment reflects against your PAN. A pending refund is a separate check; see how to check your income tax refund status.
05What happens if your PAN is inoperative
An inoperative PAN cannot be used for most tax and financial purposes until it is linked and made operative. The table below sums up the main effects.
| Area | What happens with an inoperative PAN |
|---|---|
| TDS and TCS | Tax is deducted or collected at a higher rate, as if no PAN was given. |
| Refunds | Income-tax refunds are not issued until the PAN is operative. No interest is paid for the period it stays inoperative. |
| Pending returns | Returns already filed may not be processed. |
| Defective returns | Pending defective returns cannot be fixed while the PAN is inoperative. |
| Banks and brokers | KYC and some transactions that need a valid PAN may be blocked. |
| Return filing | You cannot file a return using an inoperative PAN until it is made operative. |
The good news is that these effects apply for the period the PAN is inoperative. Once it is made operative, the department processes the held items. Even so, refunds can come with delay, so link early.
06Who is exempt from linking PAN with Aadhaar
Four groups are exempt from the requirement to link PAN with Aadhaar, according to the department’s guidance.
- Residents of Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh).
- Non-residents under the Income-tax Act, such as many NRIs.
- Individuals aged 80 years or more during the previous year.
- Persons who are not citizens of India.
An NRI who has an Aadhaar and is a resident again should check their own status. If you are unsure which group you fall in, read the official FAQ or ask a chartered accountant.
07Common problems and how to fix them
Name or date of birth does not match
If details differ between PAN and Aadhaar, the link may fail. Correct the wrong record first. Update PAN details through the PAN service provider or Aadhaar details through the UIDAI process, then try again.
OTP does not arrive
The OTP goes only to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. If that number is old or lost, update it with UIDAI before linking.
Payment not found
This usually means the payment has not yet reflected. Wait a few days, confirm you paid under the correct head, and then submit again.
Status shows pending for long
Check your details once more and try the status check again. If it stays stuck, raise a request on the portal help section or contact the department helpdesk.
08Where Claw fits
Linking PAN with Aadhaar is a simple online task, and you do not need any legal software for it. Claw becomes useful only if an inoperative PAN or a delayed link leads to a dispute, such as an income-tax notice, a demand, or a withheld refund.
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Income-tax demands and notices are often contested before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and then the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). Claw tracks matters across 9,102 forums, and its AI case search covers 30 crore+ judgments with results in under 5 seconds. Facing an income-tax notice or demand? Create a FREE Claw account to track it and search 30 crore+ judgments including ITAT orders.
CAs who manage many client notices can read litigation tracking for chartered accountants. Professionals who draft replies and appeals may find AI legal drafting software useful. For hearing dates in tribunals, see how hearing tracking works for tribunal matters.
Claw has a free plan for individual advocates, and does not use customer case documents to train AI models.
09Sources and further reading
Official sources for the steps and fee:
- Income Tax e-filing portal (Link Aadhaar, Link Aadhaar Status, e-Pay Tax): incometax.gov.in
- NSDL (Protean) tax payment site: onlineservices.nsdl.com
- Claw: clawlaw.in
Rules, fees and portal screens can change. Last verified October 2026. Please confirm on the official portal before you pay.
10Frequently asked questions
How do I link PAN with Aadhaar online?
Check your status on the income-tax e-filing portal, pay the Rs 1,000 fee through e-Pay Tax, then open Link Aadhaar and submit your PAN, Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. Check the status again afterwards to confirm.
What is the fee to link PAN with Aadhaar?
The fee is Rs 1,000 for a late link. You pay it through the e-Pay Tax option on the income-tax portal under the fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar. Confirm the current amount on the official portal before paying.
How do I check PAN Aadhaar link status?
Open the Link Aadhaar Status option on the e-filing portal, enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, and view the result. You do not need to log in. It shows whether the PAN is linked, pending or not linked.
What happens if PAN is not linked with Aadhaar?
The PAN becomes inoperative. Tax is deducted or collected at higher rates, refunds are not issued, and returns may not be processed until the PAN is made operative again by linking it with Aadhaar.
Is there a last date to link PAN with Aadhaar?
The earlier free deadline has passed, so linking now needs the Rs 1,000 fee. You can still link, and the PAN is made operative after the request is processed. Check the portal for any special window that applies to you.
Who does not need to link PAN with Aadhaar?
Residents of Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir, non-residents under the Income-tax Act, individuals aged 80 or more, and non-citizens of India are exempt. If you are unsure, check the official FAQ.