Documents required for PAN card application

What is a PAN card?

PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric combination, which acts as your personal identifier and is used for multiple purposes. It is an electronic system through which all the tax-related information for a certain individual or company is recorded and stored against a single PAN number. No two people or companies can share the same PAN. It is issued in the form of a laminated card by the Income Tax Department of India.

Why is a PAN card important?

A PAN card is a valid proof of identity nationally. It is obligatory when paying taxes, filing income tax returns, and carrying out various financial transactions. Moreover, it helps in keeping track of the inflow and outflow of your money.  

What are the types of PAN cards?

Based on the type of tax-paying entity, PAN cards are segregated into different categories. The fourth character of every PAN indicates the category as listed below:

• A: Association of Persons (AOP)
• B: Body of Individuals (BOI)
• C: Company
• E: Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
• F: Partnership Firm
• G: Government Agency
• H: Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
• J: Artificial Juridical Person
• L: Local Authority
• P: Individual
• T: Trust

Who is eligible for a PAN card?

According to Section 139A of the Income Tax Act, the following are eligible to apply for a PAN card:

• Every Indian adult with a total annual income that exceeds the limit for non-taxable income
• Every business owner with an annual turnover of more than Rs 5 lakh
• Every Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) where the head of the family is a signatory
• Every company, be it a sole proprietorship, LLP, AOP/BOI, etc.
• Every charitable organisation, trust or association

Which documents are required to apply for a PAN card?

An application for a PAN card requires three types of documents: Proof of Identity (POI), Proof of Address (POA) and Proof of Birth (POB). The complete list of documents required based on the entity applying for a PAN card are:

Which documents are required by an Indian citizen to apply for a PAN card?

Indian citizens need to apply for a PAN card with the following three types of documents–

Proof of Identity (POI) documents:

• Aadhaar card
• Voter ID card
• Individual’s Passport
• Driver’s license
• Ration card attached with the applicant’s photo
• Arm’s licence
• Pensioner card copy with the applicant’s photograph
• Photo Identity card that issued by the Central Government or the State Government
• An attested certificate containing the applicant’s photo paired with the bank account number

Proof of Birth (POB) documents:

• Birth certificate
• Aadhaar card
• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Matriculation Certificate obtained from a recognised board
• Marriage Certificate
• Pension Payment Order (PPO) number
• Domicile Certificate issued by the Government of India or State Government
• Photo identity card issued either by Central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertaking
• An affidavit signed before a magistrate recognising the DOB

Proof of Address (POA) documents:

• Aadhaar card
• Voter ID
• Passport
• Driver’s licence
• Landline bill
• Electricity bill
• Broadband connection bill
• Credit card statements attached to your address
• Bank account statements attached to your address
• Documents related to property registration of your home address
• Post office passbooks having the applicants’ address

Which documents are required by an NRI citizen to apply for a PAN card?

The documents required by an NRI citizen to apply for a PAN card are different from that of Indian citizens. The following two types of documents are required–

Proof of Identity (POI) documents:

• Passport
• OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card allotted by the Government of India
• PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) card allotted by the Government of India
• Citizenship ID number, taxpayer ID number or national ID number
  The document is only valid when attested by either the apostille or the High Commissioner/Indian Embassy/Consulate working in the applicant’s native country.

Proof of Address (POA) documents:

• Passport
• OCI card issued by the Central Government
• PIO card issued by the Central Government
• Registration Certificate issued by the Foreigner’s Registration Office showing Indian address
• Non-resident foreign bank account statements in India
• Bank statements of the foreign country where the applicant resides
• Visa (granted by the foreign country)
• Citizenship ID number, taxpayer ID number, or national ID number
  The document is only valid when attested by either the apostille or the Indian Embassy/the High Commissioner/Consulate working in the applicant’s native country.
• An appointment letter copy given by the Indian company/employer-issued original Address Certificate in India

Which documents are required by a company to apply for a PAN card?

Companies are segregated into various categories. They are:

• Company
• Limited Liability Partnership
• Trust
• Partnership firm
• Association of persons
• Local authority
• Body of individuals
• Artificial juridical person

The documents listed below act as both Proof of Identity (POI) and Proof of Address (POA) for companies:

• Company: Registration Certificate (issued by the Registrar of Companies) copy
• Limited Liability Partnership: Registration Certificate (issued by LLPs) copy
• Trust: Registration number certificate or trust deed certificate copy (issued by the Charity of Commissioner).
• Partnership firm: Registration Certificate (issued by the Registrar of Firms)/Partnership deed copy.
• Association of persons, local authority, body of individuals, artificial juridical person: Registration number certificate/agreement copy issued by Charity Commissioner or Registrar of cooperative society or equivalent document issued by the Central or State Government recognising the identity and address of the concerned person.

Conclusion

You can apply for a PAN card via online or offline mode. To make the application process easier, keep all the required documents and application ready.

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FAQs

Q. What are the charges for applying for a PAN card?

Ans. For applicants with an Indian address, the charges required to apply for a PAN card is Rs. 93, excluding GST. For applicants with a foreign communication address, the charges are Rs. 864, excluding GST.

Q. What is the size of photo required when applying for a PAN card online?

Ans. For application by individual entities, photographs must not exceed 132.28 pixels x 94.49 pixels resolution and dimensions of 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm.

Q. Where do I access the PAN application form?

Ans. The PAN application form is available at any NSDL TIN Facilitation Centre (TIN-FC) or PAN Centre. You can also download the form online on the NSDL-TIN website.

Q. Can a PAN card application be rejected?

Ans. Applications can and do get rejected very often due to incorrect or incomplete documentation. The above lists will help you prepare and ensure that it doesn’t happen to you.

Q. What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a PAN card?

Ans. The minimum age of a PAN card applicant is 18 years. Legal guardians of individuals below the required age limit can apply on their behalf.