The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is an account issued by the Department of the Income Tax. It is a 10-digit combination of numbers and alphabets and is unique to each individual. Having PAN card is mandatory in India; without its help, you can’t do any transactions in any bank or otherwise. The reason for its existence is because it serves an an anchor for the government to track your various financial activities. This is done to make sure that all your transactions are recorded and also to prevent you to make any false transactional claims to avoid paying your full income tax.

What documents are required for PAN card?

A PAN is important because it establishes your financial proof of existence. Like all other government-issued proofs you can apply for PAN online or offline depending on what’s convenient for you. There are primarily two forms that are filled for getting PAN card – 49A and 49AA. Also, if there are some changes you want to get made in your PAN, you can fill a form for that as well.

Documents required for PAN card are different for different types of applicants. Let’s have a look

Documents required for New PAN application by an Individual Indian Citizen 2018:

For Indian citizens, following are the documents required to file an application for PAN.

Ration card with applicant’s name and address
Copy of your passport
Copy of your voter’s identity card
Copy of your driving license
Arm’s license
Copy of your Aadhar card issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India.
Copy of any Central government scheme card
Photo identity card issued by the central government or your state government or any other such public sector undertakings.
Bank certificate with an attested photograph of the applicant with the account number of the applicant.
Certificate of identity in original signed by a member of Parliament or a member of legislative assembly or from your municipal councillor.

Address proof required to apply for PAN card by a citizen of India:

Copy of your electricity bill
Copy of your broadband connection bill
Copy of your landline bill
Your bank account statements
Latest order of property tax
Passport
Voter identity card
Your driving license
Domicile certificate issued by the government

If you are mentioning one of the first five documents, it shouldn’t be older than three months.

Proof of date of birth of an Indian citizen applying for PAN card:

Your birth certificate as issued by the Municipal Authority or by any other office authorized to issue birth and death certificates
Marriage certification as issued by the Registrar of Marriages
Passport
Driving license
An affidavit signed before a magistrate stating the date of the birth

Documents required by a Foreigner who is applying for the PAN application:

Copy of the passport of their country of origin
Copy of the overseas citizenship of India card issued by the Government of India.
Copy of the bank account statements in the country of residence
Copy of the Visa as granted by the government of India or the appointment letter issued by an Indian company.
Copy of non-resident external bank accounts in IndiaThe Permanent Account Number (PAN) is an account issued by the Department of the Income Tax. It is a 10-digit combination of numbers and alphabets and is unique to each individual. Having PAN card is mandatory in India; without its help, you can’t do any transactions in any bank or otherwise. The reason for its existence is because it serves an an anchor for the government to track your various financial activities. This is done to make sure that all your transactions are recorded and also to prevent you to make any false transactional claims to avoid paying your full income tax.
A PAN is important because it establishes your financial proof of existence. Like all other government-issued proofs you can apply for PAN online or offline depending on what’s convenient for you. There are primarily two forms that are filled for getting PAN card – 49A and 49AA. Also, if there are some changes you want to get made in your PAN, you can fill a form for that as well.