Permanent Account Number is abbreviated as PAN. It is a laminated card with ten-digit alphanumeric number issued by the income tax department of India. PAN card has become a mandatory since 1st January 2005. The PAN number has to e quoted for all correspondence with income tax department of India.
It is also compulsory to quote the PAN (Permanent Account Number) number for any financial transaction, buying old immobile property, mobile vehicles or even simply depositing amount exceeding 25,000 Indian Rupees and on income tax return. PAN card (Permanent Account Number) should be mandatory for all persons paying tax for themselves or on behalf of others. It is needed for NRI also; it serves as a proof of Indian ID for carrying out any kind of financial transaction in India. It is against the law to having more than one card.
Income tax department has authorized UTISL (UTI Investor Services Ltd) and NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited) to confer PAN services. IT PAN Service centers and TIN facilitation centers have been set up by UTISL in most of the cities and towns. PAN application forms can be downloaded, printed and photocopied from the income tax department website, online application can also be sent. PAN application form can also be obtained from UTISL or NSDL websites.
IT PAN Service centers or TIN Facilitations centers can help in filling up the forms. Incomplete forms are usually rejected. The applicant has to send recent stamp size(3.5cm *2.5cm) recent color photograph fixed to the form 49A along with a identification document which can be a copy of school leaving certificate or a credit card, bank account card, ration card, pass port or voters identity card.
Proof of address in the form of electricity bill or telephone ill or depository account, or driving license can be used.
PAN application fees within India is Rs 94, for processing PAN card from outside India is Rs 744. The payment can be made by Credit card, Demand draft or cheque. It takes around five working days to get the PAN card if applied online and payment made by credit card otherwise it may take 15 days or more.
Inquiries regarding PAN card can be addressed to The Vice President, IT PAN Processing center utiisl-gsd@mail.utiisl.co.in OR to The vice President Income tax pan services unit NSLD e-mail- tininfo@nsdl.co.in
These are the websites for obtaining PAN card, Tracking service and related services
