Here’s How You Can Get e-PAN Instantly by IT Department

In India, you must have an active permanent account number (PAN) for filing income tax returns, opening a new bank account, and conducting financial transactions.

Earlier, you could get a PAN card in approximately 15 to 20 days by filling a form and submitting the required documents to the department. Now, you can apply for an instant e-PAN to the income tax department.

e-PAN is a digitally signed PAN issued by the IT department electronically. The applicant should have a valid Aadhaar number or a digital signature to apply for an e-PAN. 

Here are the steps that you need to follow to apply for e-PAN: 

1. Visit this link: https://www.pan.utiitsl.com/PAN/newA.do
2. Click on the “Apply for new PAN card (Form 49A)” option available on the page. 
3. Select the “digital mode” to apply for an e-PAN. Under the digital mode, you are not required to submit a physical form, and your application will be signed using a digital signature or Aadhaar-based eSignature. Ensure that your Aadhaar is linked to your mobile number. You will receive an OTP for e-KYC on the registered mobile number. 

Also Read: Getting a Reprint of PAN Card is Now Easy, says IT department

There is no need to provide any supporting documents such as birth and address proofs. e-PAN is generated based on the information available in the Aadhaar database. However, you will have to upload an image of one’s signature and a recent photograph in the specified format. 

Now that you know that Aadhaar plays a vital role in getting an e-PAN to make sure your Aadhaar details are correctly updated as the department will reject your application in case of any mismatch. 

Also, you will have an option to choose while applying whether you want both physical PAN card and an e-PAN or just an e-PAN. If you need a physical PAN card along with e-PAN, you are required to pay Rs 107, whereas the e-PAN charges are Rs 66 only. You can take a print out of the e-PAN and use it wherever a PAN is required. 

For any clarifications/feedback on the topic, please contact the writer at komal.chawla@cleartax.in

Komal Chawla

I am an aspiring Chartered Accountant. I spend most of my free time dredging through the various Indian finance subreddits. I am a semi-professional bowler with a high strike rate every time there is a new tax reform!