Quick answer
– Open the Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) and click “Verify Your PAN” under Quick Links.
– Enter your PAN, full name exactly as on the card, date of birth, and a mobile number you can access.
– Validate the OTP. The portal tells you instantly whether the PAN is active and whether the details match the official database.
– The check is free, takes under a minute, and works for both your own PAN and one someone else has given you.
How do I verify my PAN card online?
You verify a PAN on the Income Tax e-filing portal: open incometax.gov.in, choose “Verify Your PAN” under Quick Links, enter the PAN, the holder’s full name as on the card, date of birth and a mobile number, then confirm the OTP. The portal instantly reports whether the PAN is active and the details match. It is free and needs no login.
A PAN check confirms that a number is real and that the name and birth date attached to it are the ones the tax department has on file. Banks, mutual funds, brokers and employers run this check as part of KYC. A quick check before you hand over money protects you from fake identities, and it catches data-entry mistakes (a missing middle name, a wrong birth date) before they block a refund or an EPFO claim.
Why it matters in practice: an inoperative PAN — for example one whose holder never linked Aadhaar — can trigger 20% TDS under the higher-TDS rule (Section 206AA, now Section 397(2) of the new Act — see our TDS on salary guide for how the higher rate bites) and stall refunds. A one-minute verification tells you where you stand. (We covered the Aadhaar-linking side separately: PAN-Aadhaar Link guide.)
How to verify PAN on the Income Tax e-filing portal?
This is the method most people need. It is free and needs no login.
- Open the portal — go to incometax.gov.in.
- Find “Verify Your PAN” — it sits under Quick Links on the home page.
- Enter the details — type the 10-character PAN exactly as printed, the full name as it appears on the card, the date of birth, and a mobile number.
- Get the OTP — a one-time password goes to the mobile number you entered. It does not have to be the number registered against the PAN; any number you can access works.
- Validate — type the OTP and submit. The result appears on screen.
The portal gives one of three plain-English results:
- “PAN is Active and the details are matching with PAN database.” — The number is genuine and the name and birth date match the records.
- “PAN is Active but the details are not matching with PAN database.” — The number exists, but the name or birth date you entered is different from what the department holds. Either you mistyped, or the card’s details are wrong.
- “No record found for the given PAN.” — The number was never issued (or has been deleted).
Limits to know: the portal allows about 10 searches per day per IP address, and one mobile number can be used for up to five PAN checks a day. If you need more, wait for the next day or use the bulk route below.
How to verify PAN on the Protean (NSDL) TIN portal?
Protean eGov Technologies (formerly NSDL) runs the TIN portal, the professional route for checking PANs in volume. Employers, banks and lenders use it to validate long lists at once:
- Go to the Protean TIN website and open the PAN verification service.
- Choose the bulk option and upload a CSV file of the PANs to check.
- Pay ₹2.50 per PAN (per Protean’s published tariff) by net banking or card.
- The system returns a spreadsheet with each PAN’s status — active, inactive, or not found.
For a single PAN, the free e-filing portal method above is simpler.
What happened to the old “Know Your PAN” service?
It was shut down. The old “Know Your PAN” tool let anyone type a name and date of birth and pull up the matching PAN — a clear privacy problem. It has been replaced by “Verify Your PAN”, which only confirms a PAN you already know. You cannot look up an unknown PAN from a name and birth date alone anymore.
What is PAN 2.0 and should I upgrade?
On 25 November 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared the PAN 2.0 project with an outlay of ₹1,435 crore. It is the tax department’s rebuild of the PAN system — not a new PAN number, just a better card and a single service portal.
What changes:
- Dynamic QR code — new e-PANs carry an encrypted QR code that reflects the holder’s current details from the database, unlike the static codes on older cards (printed since 2017-18). Scanning it confirms the card’s authenticity.
- Free e-PAN upgrade — existing holders can request an upgraded e-PAN with the new QR code at no charge; it lands at the registered email, usually within a day.
- Old cards stay valid — your current PAN number and card keep working for everything. Upgrading is fully optional.
- Physical reprint — if you want a plastic card with the new QR code, a reprint costs ₹50 for delivery in India.
- One portal — PAN, TAN and related services, today split across the e-filing portal, Protean and UTIITSL, are meant to merge into a single Income Tax Department platform. That consolidation is still underway; as of mid-2026 the three existing portals remain the working routes.
Watch out for scams: the department has said the upgrade is voluntary. Ignore calls, SMS or links claiming a “mandatory PAN 2.0 upgrade” — they are fraud attempts.
How to get an instant e-PAN with Aadhaar?
If you do not have a PAN yet, the e-filing portal can issue one instantly using your Aadhaar:
- On incometax.gov.in, open Instant E-PAN under Quick Links and choose New E-PAN.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and validate the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile.
- Confirm the Aadhaar details. The system generates your e-PAN in near real-time — free of charge.
- Download the password-protected PDF. The password is your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format.
If you already hold a PAN, log in to the portal instead and download the e-PAN from your account — no need to apply again. (And never hold two PANs: one person, one PAN.)
How can I spot a fake PAN card?
Physical clues — a genuine card has a clear hologram, sharp printing and consistent details. Blurred, uneven or altered text is a red flag.
Online check (the reliable one) — looks can be forged, so run the number through “Verify Your PAN” on the e-filing portal. A result of “No record found for the given PAN” means the number does not exist in the Income Tax Department’s database. “Deactivated” or “Deleted” means the number was once issued but has been removed, often after fraud. This check is commonly used before rental agreements, job offers and second-hand deals, where fake PANs show up most.
What should I do if the details do not match?
Common causes: a spelling difference (missing middle name, initials), a wrong birth date entered during issuance, or an inoperative PAN because Aadhaar was never linked.
Fix it this way:
- Correction — apply for “Change/Correction in PAN Data” on the Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL website. Fill the online form, upload ID and address proof, and pay a nominal fee (about ₹110 for delivery within India). You receive a corrected card or an updated e-PAN.
- Inoperative PAN — link Aadhaar with PAN on the e-filing portal’s “Link Aadhaar” service and pay the fee. Reactivation typically takes 7 to 30 days after payment. Full steps are in our PAN-Aadhaar linking guide.
By the numbers
- ₹1,435 crore — total outlay for PAN 2.0, cleared by the CCEA on 25 November 2024
- ₹2.50 per PAN — published tariff for bulk PAN verification on the Protean (NSDL) TIN portal
- 10 searches per day per IP — free single-PAN check limit on the Income Tax e-filing portal
- ₹50 — physical PAN card reprint with the new QR code, delivered in India
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my PAN card is valid or fake?
Check the hologram and print quality, then verify the number on the Income Tax e-filing portal’s “Verify Your PAN” tool. A “PAN is Active and the details are matching” result confirms it is genuine; “No record found” means it is not in the department’s database.
How can I find my PAN card number without the card?
Log in to the e-filing portal using your Aadhaar number as the user ID — your PAN appears in the profile section. You can also download your e-PAN after logging in, or get an instant e-PAN with Aadhaar if none was ever issued to you.
Can I obtain my PAN card number by SMS?
No. There is no official SMS service that returns your PAN. Use the e-filing portal or the Protean/UTIITSL services online instead, and be wary of any site or message that promises a PAN by SMS.
How can I check the validity of my PAN card online?
Use “Verify Your PAN” under Quick Links on incometax.gov.in. Enter the PAN, name, date of birth and a mobile number, validate the OTP, and read the status message. It is free and needs no login.
My PAN verification failed in UAN/EPFO — what do I do?
The usual cause is a name or birth-date mismatch between your EPFO (UAN) records and the tax department’s PAN database, or an inoperative PAN. Log in to the EPFO member portal, open the KYC section, correct the PAN details to match your card exactly, and resubmit. If the PAN itself is inoperative, link Aadhaar first.
Is the PAN card number the same as the PAN number?
Yes. Both names refer to the same 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department. It is the principal tax identity for individuals and entities in India.
Do I need to apply for a new PAN under PAN 2.0?
No. Existing PAN numbers remain valid for life, and the upgrade is optional. You can request a free e-PAN with the new QR code or order a ₹50 physical reprint, but your old card keeps working.
Official sources
- Income Tax Department e-filing portal — incometax.gov.in (Verify Your PAN, Link Aadhaar, Instant E-PAN)
- Protean eGov Technologies TIN portal (bulk PAN verification for organisations)
- UTIITSL portal (PAN application, correction and reprint)
This article gives general information and is not personal tax advice.
Reviewed by Asuthod Rathod, CA
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Editorial byline for eircicai freelancer tax and ITR filing guides — covering 44ADA presumptive tax, advance tax, and ITR filing. Content is reviewed by Asuthod Rathod, CA.