PAN-Aadhaar Linking Deadline Nears: Failure to Link by December 31 May Deactivate Your PAN Card

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has once again reminded taxpayers to link their PAN card with Aadhaar before December 31, 2025. Those who fail to complete this process on time will face deactivation of their PAN card starting January 1, 2026. This move aims to streamline tax compliance and prevent fraudulent financial activities by ensuring every PAN is connected to a verified Aadhaar number.

Why PAN-Aadhaar Linking is Mandatory

The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a ten-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department. It helps track an individual’s financial activities, such as income tax payments, TDS, TCS, and return filings. On the other hand, Aadhaar is a unique 12-digit identification number issued by the government to verify the identity of residents.

Linking the two ensures transparency in financial transactions and prevents duplication or misuse of PAN cards. It also helps the government maintain accurate tax records and detect cases of tax evasion.

What Happens if You Don’t Link PAN and Aadhaar

If your PAN is not linked with Aadhaar by December 31, 2025, it will become inactive from January 1, 2026. Once deactivated, you won’t be able to:

• File income tax returns (ITR).

• Receive pending tax refunds.

• Complete verification of ongoing tax filings.

• Process defective return submissions.

• Conduct high-value financial transactions that require a valid PAN.

In short, failure to link the two can severely disrupt your financial activities and cause unnecessary delays in official processes.

Deadline Extended Several Times Before

The government has already extended the PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline multiple times to give taxpayers enough time to comply. However, the CBDT has made it clear that December 31, 2025, will be the final deadline. After this date, no further extensions are expected, and non-linked PAN cards will automatically become inoperative.

Step-by-Step Guide to Link PAN with Aadhaar Online

Taxpayers can link their PAN and Aadhaar easily from the comfort of their homes using the Income Tax e-Filing Portal — www.incometax.gov.in.

Here’s how to complete the process:

Visit the official website and go to the “Quick Links” section.

Click on “Link Aadhaar”.

Enter your PAN number, Aadhaar number, and name (as per Aadhaar).

Tick the box that says “I agree to validate my Aadhaar details” and click Validate.

If you missed previous deadlines, you’ll be required to pay a penalty of ₹1,000.

To pay the fee, click Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax.

Enter your PAN, mobile number, and OTP.

Choose Assessment Year 2025-26 and select Fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar.

Complete the payment via net banking, debit card, NEFT/RTGS, or other available methods.

After payment, return to the Link Aadhaar section, re-enter your details, and verify using the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

How to Check PAN-Aadhaar Linking Status

To confirm whether your PAN is successfully linked to your Aadhaar:

Visit www.incometax.gov.in.

Under Quick Links, click on Link Aadhaar Status.

Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.

The system will instantly display your linking status on the screen.

Final Reminder for Taxpayers

Tax experts recommend linking your PAN and Aadhaar well before the deadline to avoid last-minute server issues and penalties. Once your PAN becomes inactive, reactivating it may take time and delay your ability to file taxes or perform banking transactions.

With the December 31, 2025 deadline approaching, this is the right time to complete the process and ensure uninterrupted access to all your tax and financial services in the new yea