As per the directive issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, linking your PAN and Aadhaar is mandatory to file taxes. While the last date for linking PAN and Aadhaar was 30th June 2023, you can still link the two on the e-filing portal after a penalty fee payment. However, making mistakes while linking your PAN and Aadhaar numbers can cause hassles and delay the process further. In this article, we’ve covered some of the most common PAN-Aadhaar linking mistakes to help you avoid these pitfalls.
5 common mistakes to avoid in PAN-Aadhaar linking
Linking PAN and Aadhaar with mismatched data
One of the most common mistakes made is entering incorrect personal data like your name, date of birth, or gender. Back in 2017, UIDAI still allowed PAN-Aadhaar linkage if there was a minor mismatch in the name of the taxpayer. However, from December 2017 onwards, linkage attempts have been denied even if a single letter is mismatched between the two databases. To avoid linkage failures, you should cross-verify your name’s spelling and other details on both your PAN and Aadhaar Cards ahead of time. If there are any discrepancies, focus on getting those rectified in the PAN/Aadhaar database and then attempting linkage.
Using an unregistered mobile number
Another common mistake made by people attempting to link their PAN and Aadhaar is attempting linkage with the wrong mobile number. When you visit the e-filing portal to link your Aadhaar and PAN details, you must validate the request with an OTP verification. This OTP verification requires you to submit the phone number linked to your Aadhaar Card. Inputting an incorrect phone number can cause hurdles in the linking process.
Forgetting to pay the penalty charge
According to the directives of the IT Department, PAN-Aadhaar linking had to be completed by 30th June 2023. If you are linking your PAN and Aadhaar currently after the deadline, you will have to pay a penalty charge of Rs. 1,000. However, in the haste of things, taxpayers often tend to forget about paying this penalty charge before attempting to link their PAN and Aadhaar. Just as you wouldn’t checkout of an online marketplace without completing payment, you should also ensure that your delay fee payment is complete before attempting PAN-Aadhaar linking.
Attempting linkage without payment processing confirmation
Your PAN-Aadhaar linking attempt may fail if your payment hasn’t been processed. Without successful payment processing, your PAN essentially remains inoperative. Since you cannot link your Aadhaar to an inoperative PAN, you must wait until the payment is processed. According to the e-filing website, payment processing for delayed linking fees usually takes around 30 minutes to an hour. That said, in some instances, it can take up to four to five days for the payment to be processed. Ideally, you should wait until you receive the payment processing acknowledgement to initiate the linking process.
Requesting linkage with multiple PAN or Aadhaar numbers
If you have multiple PAN or Aadhaar numbers, linking your PAN and Aadhaar may be difficult. Ensure that you only have one Aadhaar and PAN allotted before initiating the linking process. Remember if you link the wrong Aadhaar number to your PAN, you will have to delink the same. The delayed linking fees paid for the same is also non-refundable. This means you will have to start the process from scratch again and pay a fresh fee of Rs. 1,000.
Bonus tip: Technical glitches on the Income Tax Department’s website can also hamper the time taken to link your PAN and Aadhaar. Such glitches can be avoided by visiting the website at non-peak hours.
Conclusion
Failing to understand the common mistakes associated with the PAN-Aadhaar linking can result in your PAN from becoming inoperative. An inoperative PAN significantly hampers your ability to make transactions. For instance, you cannot apply for loans, credit cards, or make investments in market-linked instruments through NBFCs and other financial institutions if your PAN is inoperative. Understanding the common mistakes outlined above like mismatch in personal details, forgetting fee payment, or using the wrong mobile number can help prevent errors in the PAN-Aadhaar linking process.
