Steps to apply for a PAN

Application for a PAN card can be made online or offline. There are two government-authorized websites through which PAN can be applied online, and they are:

NSDL website and
The UTIITSL website

The government has vested these two organizations with the authority to issue PAN cards and accept applications for changes or issuance of duplicate PAN cards.

The application forms available on these websites are simple and clearly specify all the instructions. You need to fill out the form and submit it along with the processing fee and the documents required. If not online, you also have the option to send the documents via registered postal services to any service unit of NSDL or UTIITSL.

Indians are required to fill out Form 49A to apply for a PAN card, and non-resident Indians and foreigners have to fill out Form 49AA to request a PAN card.

Step-by-step process to apply for PAN via online means is mentioned below

• Step#1 Visit the NSDL website and click on the mentioned link to access the PAN application form: https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserRegisterContact.html. Once you have opened the link, a window similar to the image should appear.
• Step#2 Before you start filing the form, it is advisable to go through the instruction manual to avoid any kind of incompetencies. The instruction manual can be accessed by this link: https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/pan/Instructions49A.html#instruct_form49A.
• Step#3 From under the ‘application type’, select the form which is applicable to you (form 49A for resident Indians and form 49AA for non-residents), and from under the ‘category’ option, choose what applies for you.
• Step#4 After a thorough read, you can start filing the form.
• Step#5 Once you are done filing the form, click on ‘submit’. The screen will display a token number which will be emailed to you. But it is advised that you copy that token number.
• Step#6 Once the token number is generated, you will be redirected to another screen where you will be asked to select a mode through which you would want to proceed further with the application.

Select amongst the three available options to

• (i) Submit digitally via e-KYC and e-Sign No documents, or signatures, or any other data is required to be updated, or manually sent to NSDL in this mode. The data as per Adhaar will be automatically fetched, and you will receive the e-PAN by mail on the very same day.
• (ii) Submit scanned images and e-Sign Under this option, documents and signatures are updated in scanned copies online.
• (iii) Submit documents physically The documents for serving proof of Identity, residence, and birth are sent manually to the postal address of NSDL.
• Choose your preferred option and proceed by filing all the required details.
• The portal will ask you to make a payment for your PAN application. The charges vary depending on whether you require a physical copy of your PAN card or not.
• If a Physical copy is required, the fee structure will again depend upon two factors, namely, whether a PAN card has to be sent to an Indian address or a Foreign address.
• If a physical copy is not required for the PAN card, the charges will differ.
  Also, a point to be noted here is that if the physical copy is not requested, then furnishing the correct mail id is really important as the e- PAN would be sent on such mail ID.
• Next, you are required to select the applicable Assessing officer Range as per Income Tax.
• After this, you would be taken to the document details page where you fill in the requisite information like the place, etc., and click on submit to continue. In case you have furnished aadhaar details, no documents are either required to be attached in the form of scanned copies or sent manually. Aadhaar would be accepted as the one and only documentary proof.
• After this, the portal will offer you several payment options. You can choose your payment mode from a credit/debit card, net banking, and demand draft. Once you have made the payment, an acknowledgment receipt will be generated. You are advised to note down this acknowledgment number for future reference.

Steps to update/make any PAN card correction

This facility is to be used when you want to make certain changes in your existing PAN card. It can be a name change or a residence change etc. The process to update your PAN is almost similar to the process you must have gone through while applying for the PAN for the first time. See the steps:

• Step#1 You are required to visit the NSDL website and, from the ‘Application Type’ section, select Changes or corrections in existing PAN data / Reprint of PAN.
• Step#2 After making this selection, you will be mandatorily required to mention your existing Permanent Account Number in the field shown in the image below.
• Step#3 Rest all the process of selecting PAN application mode, the fees, etc., would be similar except.
  No AO code would be asked again, and on the document details page, you would be required to select Proof of PAN additionally.
• Step#4 Fill in the form as per the instructions and make the necessary payment. The portal will offer several payment modes like a credit/debit card, demand draft, and net banking. Make the payment via your preferred mode. After the payment has been received, the website will generate an acknowledgment receipt which you should print and keep safe.
• Step#5 Once the application has been submitted, you are required to mail NSDL your supporting documents (if you have chosen not to e-sign or send them manually). Your application will be moved further once NSDL acknowledges receiving your documents.

It is important that in case you choose modes other than aadhaar driven online process, the documents you have uploaded or sent support the change or correction you have requested in the PAN card.