If you have a PAN (Permanent Account Number) card, here’s an important alert — a minor oversight could result in a penalty of up to ₹10,000. Yes, you read that right. The Income Tax Department has started imposing fines on certain PAN card holders, and if you’re not careful, you could be next.
Who Could Face the ₹10,000 Penalty?
PAN cards are essential for filing income tax returns and are also required for various financial activities such as banking, investments, property transactions, and taking out loans. However, if your PAN card becomes inactive and you continue using it without reactivating it, you could be penalized.
To avoid unnecessary penalties, it’s crucial to find out whether your PAN card is active or has been deactivated. Fortunately, the process is simple and can be done online from the comfort of your home.
How to Check If Your PAN Card Is Active
Follow these steps to verify the status of your PAN card:
- Visit the Income Tax Department’s e-Filing website.
- Scroll down to the “Quick Links” or “Instant e-Services” section.
- Click on the “Verify Your PAN” option.
- Enter your PAN number, full name, date of birth, and the mobile number linked with your PAN-Aadhaar records.
- Submit the details to receive an OTP on your registered mobile number.
- After entering the OTP, your PAN card status will be displayed, indicating whether it is active or not.
How to Reactivate a Deactivated PAN
If you discover that your PAN has been deactivated, here’s what you need to do:
- Link your PAN with Aadhaar: The most common reason for deactivation is the failure to link PAN with Aadhaar. Make sure your PAN is properly linked. If you have already linked it, verify that the link is still valid.
- Surrender duplicate PAN cards: If you hold more than one PAN, you must surrender the duplicate immediately to avoid penalties.
- Request reactivation: You can request reactivation through the NSDL or UTIITSL portals by submitting the necessary documentation.
Final Reminder: With PAN being a critical identity and financial document, keeping it active is essential. Take a few minutes to check your PAN card status and avoid a potential penalty of ₹10,000. Prevention is always better than cure — especially when it comes to financial compliance.
