An Aadhaar card contains a unique 12-digit number issued to every citizen in India by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is an identification number that helps access the cardholder’s details from the government database, such as biometrics and contact information.

Any individual, irrespective of age and gender, being a resident of India, can enroll to obtain an Aadhaar number voluntarily. The enrolment process is free of cost. Once an individual enrolls, their details are permanently stored in the database. One person cannot have multiple Aadhaar numbers.

If you hold a PAN and are eligible to get Aadhaar or already have an Aadhaar number, you must inform the income tax department. You can do this by linking your PAN to your Aadhaar. If you fail to do PAN-Aadhar linking, your PAN will become ‘inoperative’.

How to Check if your Aadhaar is Linked to your PAN Card?

The PAN-Aadhaar linking date has been extended from 31st March 2022 to 31st March 2023. The final day to link PAN and Aadhaar without paying a fine, however, was March 31, 2022. Now, a fine of Rs. 1,000 must be paid for linking PAN-Aaadhaar.

Note that if you file the income tax returns without linking PAN-Aadhaar, the income tax department will not process the returns until PAN and Aadhaar are linked. People can visit the official e-filing website of the department to link the two identities in both cases– identical names in the two databases or in a case where there is a minor mismatch.

If you are not sure if your PAN and Aadhaar cards are linked, you may follow these steps to confirm:

1. Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal. Click on the ‘Link Aadhaar Status’ under the quick links on the homepage.
2. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number and click ‘View Link Aadhaar Status’.

Now, if your PAN & Aadhaar is not linked, you will see a pop-up as shown below. You can follow these steps to link them. And if they are already linked, you can proceed with your Income Tax Filing