Two main steps for linking your Aadhar with PAN:

I. Payment of fee on NSDL portal under Major head (0021) and Minor head (500) for AY 2023-24. 
II. Submit the Aadhaar-PAN link request.

Documents to keep handy:

• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Mobile number linked to aadhaar

I. Payment of fee on NSDL portal

Step 1: Go to the tax payment page and select Challan no./ITNS 280 under the non-TDS/TCS category.

Step 2: On the next screen, select head ‘(0021)’ and then ‘(500)’ 

Step 3: Scroll down to select the mode of payment and enter the required details (like your PAN, for Assessment Year select 2023-24, address etc.)

Step 4: Proceed to make the payment and follow the next steps to submit the PAN-Aadhaar link request. It is advisable to wait 4-5 days before submitting the request.

II. Submit Online/Offline Request for Linking of Aadhaar Number and PAN

You can do online linking of the Aadhaar number with PAN by logging on to the income tax e-filing portal. You can also do it through SMS. There are three ways of linking your PAN to Aadhaar:

1. Linking of Aadhaar Number and PAN via SMS

2. Without logging in to your account (2-step procedure)

3. Logging in to your account (6-step procedure)

Method 1: Linking of Aadhaar Number and PAN via SMS

Now you can link your Aadhaar and PAN through SMS. The income tax department has urged taxpayers to link their Aadhaar with their PAN, using an SMS-based facility. It can be done by sending an SMS to either 567678 or 56161. Send SMS to 567678 or 56161 from your registered mobile number in the following format:

UIDPAN<SPACE><12 digit Aadhaar><Space><10 digit PAN>

Example: UIDPAN 123456789123 AKPLM2124M

Method 2: Without Logging in to Your Account (2 Step Procedure)

Step 1: Go to www.incometax.gov.in.On scrolling down the home page, click on the ‘Our Services’ tab.

Step 2: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number

Step 3: Note that if PAN is linked to another Aadhaar, you will see an error that reads ‘PAN is already linked with another Aadhaar’.
In this case, you may lodge a grievance or contact the e-Filing Helpdesk to un-link Aadhaar and PAN if your PAN is linked with another Aadhaar.

After you’ve validated your PAN and Aadhaar, there could be 3 scenarios:

Scenario 1: If you have made payment of challan on the NSDL (now Protean) Portal and payment details are verified on the e-filing portal. 

Step 1: After validating PAN and Aadhar, you will see a pop-up message “Your payment details are verified”. Click the ‘Continue’ button to submit the ‘Aadhaar link’ request.

Step 2: Enter the required details and click the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button.

Step 3: Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your mobile number and validate.

Your request see a success message on the screen. You may now check your Aadhaar-PAN link status.

Scenario-2: If the payment details are not verified on the e-filing portal.

After validating PAN and Aadhaar, you will see a pop-up message “Payments details not found”. If the payment was unsuccessful, you must first complete the payment on the NSDL Portal, as shown earlier, as it is the pre-requisite for submitting a PAN-Aadhaar link request.
However, if you have already paid the fee on the NSDL portal, you can submit the link request only after 4-5 working days.

Scenario-3: In case the record for PAN and minor head code 500 is there, but challan is already consumed for linking.

After validating PAN and Aadhaar, you will see a pop-up message “Payment done earlier for this PAN has already been used for Aadhaar -PAN linking”. 

You will be required to make the fee payment again on NSDL and submit the Aadhaar-PAN linking request after 4-5 working days.

Method 3: Logging in to Your Account (6-Step Procedure)

Step 1: Register yourself at the income tax e-filing portal, if you are not already registered. 

Step 2: Log in to the e-filing portal of the income tax department by entering the user ID.

Step 3: Confirm your secure access message and enter password. And click ‘Continue’ to proceed further.

Step 4: After logging in to the website, click on ‘Link Aadhaar’. Alternatively, go to ‘My Profile’ and select ‘Link Aadhaar’ under the ‘Personal Details’ option.

Step 5: Enter details, such as name, date of birth and gender
will already be mentioned as per the details submitted at the time of registration on the e-filing portal. Enter Aadhaar number and name as per Aadhaar. Verify the details on the screen with the ones mentioned on your Aadhaar card.

It is mandatory to give your consent by selecting the check box ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar details’.
In case if only year of birth is mentioned in your Aadhaar card, then select the check box asking ‘I have only year of birth in Aadhaar card’.

How to solve error EF30032 “The PAN is already a client for an ERI”? How to solve error EF500096 “This PAN is already client until date”?

An ERI (e-return Intermediary) is an individual or organization who is authorized to file tax returns on behalf of taxpayers.
A taxpayer cannot be a client for multiple ERIs. When your PAN is already a client for an ERI (like Cleartax), you will see this error while linking PAN-Aadhaar.
You can simply deactivate the previous E-return Intermediary by following the below steps:

Step 1: Log in to the e-filing portal and select E-return Intermediary from the dropdown as shown below

Step 2: Click on Deactivate

Step 3: Selected ERI will be deactivated successfully. After successful deactivation of your previous ERI, you can add  your ERI and proceed with your ITR filing.

Click on ‘Link Aadhaar’ button.

Step 6: A pop-up message will inform you that your Aadhaar number has been successfully linked to your PAN card.

How to solve the error EF500058 “The PAN is not a valid client for this ERI”?

If you face this error when registering your PAN as a client, it means:

1. Cleartax’s ERI ID is deactivated in your income tax account or
2. Your PAN is linked as a client of another ERI.

How to rectify the error?

Step 1: Log in to your income tax account. Click on Authorised Partners >>My E return Intermediary. You can see two tabs, Active and Inactive, as shown below:

Step 2: 

• ClearTax ERI is ERIP000708. If any other ERI is shown under the Active tab, then deactivate it. 
• If  ERI appears in the inactive tab, click on ‘Activate’.

Once  ERI appears in the active tab, you may proceed with your return filing 
If  ERI does not appear in the active tab, you must register your PAN by authenticating it through an OTP.

Frequently Asked Questions

While trying for PAN-Aadhar linking, I get a message that the authentication has failed?

The authentication fails due to a mismatch in the data between your PAN and Aadhaar. You can check for the correctness of the data such as name, date of birth, mobile number, amongst others.

How do I link PAN and Aadhaar if there is a mismatch in name or date of birth?

Initiate the Aadhaar linking process, enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, and the name, date of birth and mobile number details as per your Aadhaar card, the income tax department will send an OTP on the registered mobile number to enable the linking. In the case of a mismatch in the date of birth, you need to update your Aadhaar card data.

Can I file my ITR if my PAN and Aadhaar are not linked?

You need to quote your Aadhaar number for the purpose of filing your income tax return. In the absence of an Aadhaar number, you need to quote Aadhaar enrolment number.

Does a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is required to link PAN and Aadhaar?

Only as resident Indian can get an Aadhaar number. An individual whose stay in India is 182 days or more in the previous 12 months, immediately before the date of an Aadhaar application is a resident. An NRI need not obtain Aadhaar and link their PAN with Aadhaar.