Here's how to link PAN cards with Aadhar via SMS and e-filing before March 31, 2023

For everyday life in India, Aadhar has replaced the voter card for photo ID verification, be it for buying a new sim card or getting a railway pass. Although its mandatory status has been questioned in court, Aadhar remains compulsary for to validate PAN Cards, filing income tax returns and benefiting from welfare schemes.

The income tax department has made it clear that permanent account number (PAN) cards, won't be of any use if they aren't linked to Aadhar by March 31, 2023.

How can you get it done?

People can visit dedicated service centres for linking PAN and Aadhar near their locality.

They can also do it via SMS by sending a message with the code UIDPAN<Aadhar number><Pan number>, to 567678.

Tech-savvy taxpayers can log in to the IT department’s e-filing portal incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in and click on the Link Aadhar option.

Next, fill in PAN number, Aadhar number and name according to Aadhar card.

After verifying details and submitting the application, users get a confirmation message and an OTP vis SMS.

Who'll need to do this?

The Central Board for Direct Taxes announced in a tweet that March 31, 2023, is the last date to link PAN cards with Aadhar, for everyone except those who are exempted.

Apart from NRIs, linking the two documents isn’t mandatory for those living in Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.

After the due date, the PAN and Aadhar can be linked till June 30, 2023, but for that citizens will have to pay Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 as penalty.

What is Aadhar really needed for

Earlier the Supreme Court of India had also ruled that Aadhar and SIM don’t need to be linked, although it has become a common practice.

Late last year, the UIDAI asked for an exemption from the government’s Personal Data Protection Law.

The Supreme Court has also upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhar, by saying that it allows people from disenfranchised backgrounds to access subsidies and other benefits.