PAN Card Online Apply 2026 – Complete Step-by-Step Guide (Full Detailed Post)
If you are earning income, filing ITR, starting a YouTube channel like BruhatExpress, opening a bank account, investing in mutual funds, or applying for government schemes in Karnataka – PAN Card is compulsory.
In this detailed guide, you will learn:
- What is PAN Card?
- Who needs PAN?
- Documents required
- How to apply PAN card online (Step-by-Step)
- PAN correction process
- e-PAN download process
- Charges & processing time
- FAQs
What is PAN Card?
PAN (Permanent Account Number) is a 10-digit alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department of India.
Example: ABCDE1234F
It is used to track your financial transactions and is mandatory for:
- Income Tax Return (ITR) filing
- Bank account opening
- Loan applications
- Property purchase above limit
- Mutual fund investments
- Government subsidy schemes
Official Websites to Apply PAN Card
You can apply through these government authorized portals:
- Income Tax Department of India
- Protean eGov Technologies Limited
- UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited
Both NSDL (Protean) and UTI portals are officially authorized.
Step-by-Step Process: How to Apply PAN Card Online
Step 1: Visit Official Portal
Go to Protean (NSDL) or UTI website.
Select:
New PAN – Form 49A (Indian Citizen)
Step 2: Choose Application Type
You will see 3 options:
- New PAN (Indian Citizen)
- Changes/Correction in PAN
- Reprint PAN Card
Select “New PAN”.
Step 3: Fill Basic Details
Enter:
- Full Name (As per Aadhaar)
- Date of Birth
- Mobile Number
- Email ID
- Aadhaar Number
Make sure details exactly match Aadhaar to avoid rejection.
Step 4: Choose Submission Mode
You get 3 options:
- Aadhaar e-KYC (Instant verification – fastest)
- Scan & Upload Documents
- Send Physical Documents
Best Option: Aadhaar e-KYC (Fast approval within 2–5 days)
Step 5: Fill Personal Details
You need to fill:
- Father’s Name
- Address (As per Aadhaar)
- Source of Income
- Area Code / AO Code (auto suggested)
Step 6: Upload Documents (If Required)
If not using Aadhaar e-KYC, upload:
Identity Proof:
- Aadhaar
- Voter ID
- Passport
Address Proof:
- Aadhaar
- Driving License
- Electricity Bill
DOB Proof:
- Birth Certificate
- SSLC Marks Card
- Passport
Step 7: Pay PAN Application Fees
PAN Application Charges (2026):
- ₹107 (Physical PAN – Indian Address)
- ₹66 (e-PAN only)
- ₹1017 (Foreign Address)
Payment options:
- UPI
- Debit Card
- Net Banking
- Credit Card
Step 8: e-Sign & Submit
Verify using:
- Aadhaar OTP
After submission, you receive:
- Acknowledgment Number
- SMS confirmation
Save acknowledgment for tracking.
Processing Time
- e-PAN: 2 to 5 working days
- Physical PAN: 7 to 15 working days
You will receive:
- e-PAN via email
- Physical card via post
How to Download e-PAN Card
- Visit official portal
- Click “Download e-PAN”
- Enter PAN number
- Enter DOB
- Verify OTP
- Download PDF
Password for PDF: Your Date of Birth (DDMMYYYY)
How to Check PAN Status
Go to:
Protean or UTI website
Click “Track PAN Application”
Enter Acknowledgment Number
You can see:
- Under process
- Approved
- Dispatched
How to Correct PAN Card Details
If your name spelling is wrong or address changed:
- Select “PAN Correction”
- Enter PAN number
- Update correct details
- Upload proof
- Pay ₹107
- Submit
Correction takes 5–10 days.
Who Must Apply for PAN?
Mandatory for:
- Salary above taxable limit
- Business owners
- Freelancers
- YouTubers
- Property buyers
- Loan applicants
- GST registration
Even students can apply (no age limit).
Benefits of Having PAN Card
- Required for ITR filing
- Easy bank transactions
- Loan approval faster
- High-value transactions allowed
- Government scheme eligibility
- Avoid TDS higher deduction
PAN Card for Students
Documents required:
- Aadhaar
- School ID (optional)
- DOB proof
Students from Karnataka applying for scholarships should have PAN linked to bank.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Name mismatch with Aadhaar
- Wrong DOB
- Wrong mobile number
- Uploading unclear documents
- Not signing properly
Always double check before submission.
PAN – Aadhaar Linking (Important)
PAN must be linked with Aadhaar.
Otherwise:
- PAN becomes inoperative
- ITR filing blocked
- TDS at higher rate
You can link through Income Tax portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I apply PAN without Aadhaar?
Yes, but Aadhaar makes process faster.
2. Is PAN mandatory for bank account?
Yes, if deposit exceeds ₹50,000.
3. Can I hold two PAN cards?
No. It is illegal and punishable.
4. What if I lost my PAN?
Apply for reprint.
5. Can minors apply?
Yes, through guardian.
PAN Card Online Apply – Complete Detailed Guide (2026)
If you are planning to file Income Tax Return (ITR), start a business, open a current account, invest in mutual funds, or even monetize YouTube (like BruhatExpress), PAN Card is compulsory.
This guide gives you complete, advanced, step-by-step information — including eligibility, documents, processing time, correction process, reprint, linking, and important legal rules.
Authorized portals to apply:
- Protean eGov Technologies Limited
- UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited
Issued by: Income Tax Department of India
What is PAN Card?
PAN (Permanent Account Number) is a 10-digit alphanumeric number issued for tax identification.
Example Format: ABCDE1234F
Breakdown:
- First 5 letters – Alphabet
- Next 4 digits – Numbers
- Last letter – Alphabet
It remains same for lifetime.
You can only have ONE PAN legally.
Who Must Apply for PAN?
PAN is mandatory if:
- Your income is taxable
- You are starting a business
- You want GST registration
- You deposit ₹50,000+ in bank at once
- You buy property
- You apply for loan
- You invest in shares or mutual funds
- You receive professional payments
- You are a YouTuber earning AdSense income
Even students can apply (no minimum age).
Documents Required for PAN
Identity Proof (Any One)
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID
- Passport
- Driving License
Address Proof (Any One)
- Aadhaar
- Electricity Bill
- Passport
- Bank Statement
Date of Birth Proof
- Birth Certificate
- SSLC / 10th Marks Card
- Passport
👉 If applying through Aadhaar e-KYC → No need to upload documents manually.
Step-by-Step PAN Online Apply Process (Detailed)
STEP 1: Visit Official Website
Open Protean (NSDL) or UTI portal.
Click:
New PAN – Form 49A (For Indian Citizens)
STEP 2: Basic Registration
Fill:
- Applicant Type → Individual
- Full Name (Exactly as per Aadhaar)
- Date of Birth
- Email ID
- Mobile Number
Submit → You receive Token Number.
Save it.
STEP 3: Choose Submission Mode
You get 3 options:
- Aadhaar e-KYC (Fastest)
- e-Sign with upload
- Physical submission
Recommended: Aadhaar e-KYC
STEP 4: Fill Complete Personal Details
You must enter:
- Father’s Name (mandatory)
- Mother’s Name (optional)
- Gender
- Aadhaar Number
- Residential Address
- Source of Income
- Area Code / AO Code
Most AO codes auto-detected.
STEP 5: Contact & Address Details
Verify:
- Phone number
- PIN code
- State & District
Make sure address is correct because physical PAN will come here.
STEP 6: Document Upload (If Not Using e-KYC)
Upload scanned copies:
- ID proof
- Address proof
- DOB proof
- Photo (passport size)
- Signature
File size usually below 300 KB.
STEP 7: Payment
Fees (Indian address):
- ₹107 – Physical PAN
- ₹66 – e-PAN only
Foreign address:
- ₹1017
Payment options:
- UPI
- Net Banking
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
After payment, proceed.
STEP 8: Aadhaar OTP Verification
If using e-KYC:
- OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile
- Enter OTP
- Submit
Application completed.
You receive:
- Acknowledgment Number
- SMS confirmation
- Email confirmation
PAN Processing Time
- e-PAN: 2–5 working days
- Physical PAN: 7–15 days
e-PAN is sent to your email as PDF.
How to Download e-PAN
Steps:
- Visit official portal
- Click “Download e-PAN”
- Enter PAN number or acknowledgment number
- Enter DOB
- OTP verification
- Download PDF
PDF Password:
Your DOB (DDMMYYYY)
Example:
DOB: 15 August 2000
Password: 15082000
How to Track PAN Application Status
Steps:
- Visit official portal
- Click “Track PAN”
- Enter Acknowledgment Number
- Submit
Status will show:
- Under Process
- Approved
- Dispatched
How to Correct PAN Details Online
If mistake in:
- Name spelling
- DOB
- Address
- Signature
Process:
- Choose “Changes/Correction in PAN”
- Enter PAN number
- Update correct details
- Upload supporting documents
- Pay ₹107
- Submit
Processing: 5–10 working days
PAN Reprint (Lost PAN Card)
If card lost:
- Select “Reprint PAN”
- Enter PAN number
- Verify OTP
- Pay ₹50–₹107
- Submit
New card delivered to address.
PAN–Aadhaar Linking (Very Important)
PAN must be linked with Aadhaar.
If not linked:
- PAN becomes inoperative
- Cannot file ITR
- Higher TDS deduction
- Bank transactions restricted
Linking available on Income Tax portal.
Can You Have Two PAN Cards?
NO.
Holding two PAN cards is illegal.
Penalty: ₹10,000 under Income Tax Act.
If you have duplicate PAN:
- Surrender extra PAN immediately.
PAN for Business Owners
For business:
- Apply as Individual (if sole proprietor)
- Use PAN for GST registration
- Use PAN for current account
- Mandatory for invoices above limit
PAN for Students
Students can apply with:
- Aadhaar
- DOB proof
Useful for:
- Scholarships
- Investment
- Freelancing income
- Bank FD above limit
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Name mismatch with Aadhaar
❌ Wrong DOB
❌ Applying twice
❌ Using different spellings
❌ Wrong mobile number
❌ Blurred document upload
Always cross-check before payment.
Important Legal Points
- Only one PAN allowed
- PAN required for tax compliance
- Fake PAN is punishable offense
- PAN must be quoted in financial transactions
Final Summary
To apply PAN online:
- Visit Protean or UTI portal
- Select Form 49A
- Fill details carefully
- Choose Aadhaar e-KYC
- Pay ₹107
- Verify OTP
- Receive acknowledgment
- Download e-PAN in 3–5 days
PAN card is essential for financial growth, tax filing, bank transactions, and business registration in India.
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Applying for PAN Card online in 2026 is very easy and fully digital. If you use Aadhaar e-KYC, you can get e-PAN within 3–5 days.
For content creators, freelancers, salaried employees, and business owners in Karnataka – PAN is essential for tax compliance and financial growth.