Income tax department to issue PAN instantly online on the bases of Adhaar database

The income
tax department is set to launch a facility to instantly issue permanent account
number (PAN) online, using details available in the Aadhaar database, helping
end the wait time for applicants.

Sources told
that service would be launched over the next few weeks and would also help
those with an existing PAN get a duplicate in a matter of minutes.

The
electronic PAN (ePAN) facility would be available free of cost and on near to
real time basis, an official said.

Those
looking for an ePAN will need to repeat their Aadhaar and verify the details
using a one-time password (OTP). Since the data provided in Aadhaar such as
address, father’s name and date of birth will be accessed online, there will be
no requirement to upload any document apart from some basic information.

Once a PAN
is generated, the applicant will be issued a digitally signed ePAN, with a QR
code which will capture the demographic data besides photo of the applicant.
The information in the QR code will be encrypted to prevent digital
photoshopping, an official said.

While a
pilot with over 62,000 ePANs issued over eight days has been conducted, the
facility is now being scaled up to make it nationwide and available to all
taxpayers over the next few weeks.

“The move is
part of greater digitization of income tax services and aimed at providing the
facility without anyone having to visit any office,” an official said.

After SC
judgment on Aadhaar, which allowed use of the number for linking PAN, the
government has decided to make it mandatory for several high-value transactions
and those who do not have PAN will now be issued one instantly based on
Aadhaar.