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Do you see ‘Error: Invalid Surname. Please retry’ or ‘Error: Invalid First Name. Please retry’ while attempting to register on the income tax department’s e-filing website. Like always, we are here to your rescue. There are a few workarounds to resolve such errors and facilitate a smooth registration process. Read on to understand why the errors occur and how you can fix them.
These errors occur when the surname you registered your PAN card with does not match the surname you are trying to key in on the income tax portal. Many websites adopt the Western naming conventions, wherein they are required to enter surname, first name, and middle name. People may end up swapping the surname for the first name and vice-versa while applying for PAN. Subsequently, when you enter your name on the income tax portal for registration, the same is mapped to the name contained in the PAN database, which might not match. An error is therefore displayed, which creates a lot of confusion among taxpayers.
Find out the Name/Surname on Your PAN Card in the following manner -
Note the unique 10-digit alphameric PAN number
Say, e.g., Your name is Neeraj Chopra, and your PAN number is BLGPN5123D of the ten characters,
If you are a non-individual, i.e., a company, firm, etc., it indicates the first character of the PAN holder’s name.
According to the Indian naming convention, Neeraj is the first name, and Chopra is the last name. However, while in the PAN, a Western naming convention might be adopted. Hence. You’ll be required to use the same on the income tax portal as well. So in the given instance, the PAN number gives you an additional clue that the surname you have entered while applying for PAN starts with the letter N. It can be deduced that Neeraj was used as your last name. Cracking this clue allows you to proceed with the registration process on the e-filing website.
If you are still not able to fix the name/surname error while registering yourself on the portal, the best way is to get assistance from an expert chartered accountant. Tax2win’s CAs are highly experienced and provide you with end-to-end tax filing services, right from registration to e-verification.
Book an ExpertThe first name invalid error occurs if there is a mismatch between the name entered on the e-filing portal and the name on the PAN card issued to an individual. It must be in the same order in which it is entered on the PAN. It might affect your registration process, and you might not be able to register on the e-filing website.
The 5th character of your PAN number is the initial of your last name. You can use this quick clue to identify your last name as entered in the PAN card and use this to complete your registration. By the last name, the initial first name can also be identified.
If there is an error in your income tax return, then you have to file a rectification request -
