Shan Ahmed Khan

India’s tax board set Dec. 31 as the deadline for certain PAN holders to link their Aadhaar number. PANs not linked by then will become inoperative from Jan. 1, 2026, blocking tax refunds and access to banking services. A 1,000-rupee fee applies to reactivate an inoperative PAN by linking Aadhaar.

India’s tax department has notified thousands of taxpayers that their refunds are on hold under a “risk management” review, Indian media reported. The alerts arrived just days before the Dec. 31 deadline to file belated or revised returns for the 2025-26 year. Advisers say mismatches in donation and deduction claims have left many filers uncertain. Emails cite issues with charity details, salary data, and capital gains figures.

India’s Income Tax Department set Dec. 31 as the deadline to link PAN with Aadhaar, with unlinked PANs to become inoperative from Jan. 1. The same date is the last day to file belated or revised income tax returns for assessment year 2025-26. Taxpayers must pay a 1,000-rupee fee if linking late. An extension for late filings appears unlikely, according to a tax expert.