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How to Correct the Invalid Surname and First Name Error on e-Filing Portal?

Updated on: 23 Jul, 2024 03:55 PM

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 ways to resolve such errors and facilitate a smooth registration process. Read on to understand why the errors occur and how you can fix them.

Budget 2024 Update

FM Nirmala Sitharaman has made two announcements for those opting for the new tax regime.

First, the standard deduction for salaried employees is proposed to be increased from Rs 50,000/- to Rs 75,000/-. Similarly, deduction on family pension for pensioners is proposed to be enhanced from Rs 15,000/- to Rs 25,000/-.

Second, in the new tax regime, the tax rate structure is proposed to be revised, as follows:

  • 0-3 lakh rupees - NIL tax
  • 3-7 lakh rupees - 5% tax
  • 7-10 lakh rupees - 10% tax
  • 10-12 lakh rupees - 15% tax
  • 12-15 lakh rupees - 20% tax
  • Above 15 lakh rupees - 30% tax

As a result of these changes, a salaried employee in the new tax regime stands to save up to Rs 17,500/- in income tax.


Reasons for an Invalid Surname or First Name Error?

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. The name entered on the income tax e filing portal should match with the order of first name and surname on the PAN card issued to an individual. If you fail to enter them correctly, you might not be able to register on the ITR e filing website. 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.


How to Resolve Invalid Surname and First Name Errors on the e-filing Website?

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,

  • The first three indicate a unique sequence from AAA to ZZZ, and the fourth character is P or C.
  • The fourth indicates your status,i.e., Whether you are an individual or a company, etc., as under:
    'P' stands for Individual.
    'H' stands for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
    'F' stands for Firm/ Limited Liability Partnership.
    'C' stands for Company.
    'A' stands for Association of Persons (AOP)
    'B' stands for Body of Individuals (BOI)
    'G' stands for Government Agency.
    'J' stands for Artificial Juridical Person
    'L' stands for Local Authority.
    'T' stands for Trust
  • The 5th one indicates the first letter of your last name/surname if you are an individual.

If you are a non-individual, i.e., a company, firm, etc., it indicates the first character of the PAN holder’s name.

  • The next four indicate a numerical sequence from 0001 to 9999.
  • the last one is an alphabetic check digit.

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.


How to Change Your Name/Surname on the Income Tax Portal?

  • Login to your Income Tax Portal using your PAN card and Aadhaar Card, and Password.
  • Go to the ‘My Profile’ section from the upper right corner of the screen.
  • Navigate to ‘Personal Details’ and click ‘Edit.’
  • Change the name/surname based on the clue you received from your PAN number.
  • Click on ‘Save’.
  • Ta-da! You have successfully updated your correct name/surname on the ITR e-filing portal and fixed the error.

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 Expert


Frequently Asked Questions

Q- What is an invalid first name error in Income Tax registration?

The 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.


Q- How to find the first name and last name in the Income Tax portal?

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.


Q- How do you solve income tax return errors?

If there is an error in your income tax return, then you have to file a rectification request -

  • Go to the menu and click the ‘Rectification’ link.
  • Choose 'Order/Intimation to be rectified' and 'Assessment Year' from the dropdown menu and continue.
  • Select any one option from the 'Request Type' from the drop-down list.

Q- Where to check Full Name as per PAN database?

You can check whether the PAN, Date of birth, and full name are valid by visiting the income tax portal. However, you cannot directly check your Full name as per the PAN database due to data security.


CA Abhishek Soni
CA Abhishek Soni

Abhishek Soni is a Chartered Accountant by profession & entrepreneur by passion. He is the co-founder & CEO of Tax2Win.in. Tax2win is amongst the top 25 emerging startups of Asia and authorized ERI by the Income Tax Department. In the past, he worked in EY and comes with wide industry experience from telecom, retail to manufacturing to entertainment where he has handled various national and international assignments.