As India heads into the final week of 2025, the PAN–Aadhaar linkage story has surged back into the news cycle—this time with a sharp year-end cutoff and a clear risk: an “inoperative” PAN from 1 January 2026 for those who miss the requirement. Income Tax India
Across updates published on 26 December 2025, the message is consistent: taxpayers should check their PAN–Aadhaar linking status immediately, complete any pending steps on the Income Tax e-filing portal, and avoid last-minute technical delays that could disrupt routine banking, investing, and tax activities. The Times of India
But there’s a crucial nuance often missed in viral reminders: the 31 December 2025 deadline is especially relevant to a specific group—people who were allotted a PAN using an Aadhaar Enrolment ID (instead of the final Aadhaar number) for enrolment applications filed before 1 October 2024. Income Tax India
Below is a complete, practical guide to what’s happening, who needs to act, what “inoperative PAN” actually means, and how to fix common problems—plus what to do if you’ve forgotten your PAN number with the deadline approaching.
What exactly is the 31 December 2025 PAN–Aadhaar deadline?
The legal trigger behind this wave of reminders is Notification No. 26/2025 (dated 3 April 2025). It notifies that every person allotted a PAN on the basis of an Aadhaar Enrolment ID (for enrolment applications filed prior to 1 October 2024) must intimate their Aadhaar number by 31 December 2025. Missing this can make the PAN inoperative from 1 January 2026. Income Tax India
Why this matters: an enrolment ID is not the same as your final Aadhaar number. Once Aadhaar is generated, the system expects you to “complete” the linkage by providing the actual Aadhaar number, not just the enrolment reference. Business Standard
Not sure if you’re in the “Aadhaar Enrolment ID” group?
Don’t guess. The fastest way is to check your PAN–Aadhaar linking status (steps below). If you’re already linked, you’re done. If not, you’ll see it immediately and can act. Hindustan Times
Who needs to link PAN with Aadhaar (and who may be exempt)?
Under Section 139AA (as reflected in the Income Tax Department’s official FAQs), Aadhaar–PAN linkage applies to individuals who are eligible for Aadhaar. Your PAN can become inoperative if not linked by the prescribed timelines, though later linking may be allowed with a fee. Income Tax Department
The official FAQs also list categories where Aadhaar–PAN linkage is not compulsory, including individuals who are:
- Residing in Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, and Meghalaya
- Non-resident as per the Income-tax Act
- 80 years or older at any time during the previous year
- Not a citizen of India Income Tax Department
Important detail: even if you fall in an exempt category, the FAQ notes that if you voluntarily choose to link, fee payment of the specified amount may still be required. Income Tax Department
What happens if your PAN becomes “inoperative”?
“Inoperative PAN” is not just a label—it can block or slow down essential processes.
The Income Tax Department’s FAQ spells out key consequences once a PAN becomes inoperative, including:
- Refunds due under the Act may not be issued
- Interest may not be payable on such refunds for the inoperative period
- Higher TDS may apply (as per the relevant provisions)
- Higher TCS may apply (as per the relevant provisions) Income Tax Department
In practical terms, recent reporting also highlights disruptions such as difficulty filing/verifying ITRs, issues with credits reflecting properly, and KYC-related blocks for new financial activity until the PAN is reactivated. Business Standard
Will your existing bank account be frozen?
Multiple reports emphasize that existing bank accounts typically continue operating, but new financial onboarding and KYC-dependent actions (new investments, securities trading, certain updates) can be blocked until the PAN becomes operative again. Business Standard
How to check PAN–Aadhaar linking status online (takes under a minute)
To check whether your PAN and Aadhaar are linked:
- Go to the Income Tax e-filing portal
- Use the “Link Aadhaar status” option (often available via quick links)
- Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number
- Submit to view the status Hindustan Times
If the status says linked: save a screenshot or confirmation for your records and you’re done.
If it says not linked: move to the linking steps below.
How to link PAN with Aadhaar online before 31 December 2025
The linking flow is essentially a two-part process for many people:
- Pay the applicable fee (if required)
- Submit the linking request and complete OTP verification Hindustan Times
Step-by-step: link PAN with Aadhaar using the e-filing portal
A widely shared, portal-based sequence looks like this:
- Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal (or use the pre-login Link Aadhaar option)
- Go to Profile and select “Link Aadhaar”
- Enter PAN and Aadhaar number
- Choose “Continue to Pay through e-Pay Tax” if prompted
- Select the relevant assessment year and set the payment type to “Other Receipts”
- Generate the challan, choose payment mode, and pay via the redirected bank page
- Return to the portal and complete the Link Aadhaar submission Hindustan Times
About the ₹1,000 fee
Many of the late-linking scenarios involve a ₹1,000 fee. The Income Tax Department’s FAQ references a fee of one thousand rupees to make an inoperative PAN operative by intimating Aadhaar. Income Tax Department
Also note: if you’re using a biometric-based route at authorised PAN service centres due to repeated failures, the FAQ advises carrying the ₹1,000 challan copy, and mentions additional biometric authentication charges at the centre. Income Tax Department
Don’t panic if payment doesn’t reflect instantly
If you’ve paid but the portal doesn’t immediately recognise it, some guidance suggests waiting a short period for confirmation before retrying the linking step. NDTV Profit
Fixing the #1 reason linking fails: mismatch in name, DOB, or gender
PAN–Aadhaar linkage fails most often because the demographic details don’t match across the two databases.
What UIDAI says about mismatched details
UIDAI notes that, ideally, Name, Gender, and Date of Birth should match. For minor name mismatches, an Aadhaar OTP may be sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar, but DOB and gender should match exactly. If the Aadhaar name is completely different from PAN, the linking will fail and you’ll be prompted to update details. UIDAI
What to do next (official guidance)
- Correct PAN details through authorised channels (Protean/NSDL or UTIITSL)
- Correct Aadhaar details via UIDAI’s update services
- If it still fails, use biometric-based authentication at designated PAN service provider centres Income Tax Department
Forgot your PAN number before the deadline? Here’s how to retrieve it
With 31 December nearing, one practical problem has become its own headline: people who want to link PAN–Aadhaar but don’t remember the PAN number.
According to guidance highlighted from an Income Tax Department response on social media (as referenced in recent reporting), taxpayers have two primary retrieval paths:
Option 1: Contact your jurisdictional Assessing Officer (AO)
If you can’t locate your PAN, you can reach out to your jurisdictional AO, who can verify identity and guide you on retrieval steps. The Economic Times
Option 2: Use the email-based verification route
You can email clear, colour-scanned copies of:
- Proof of date of birth
- Address proof
- Aadhaar card
Send these to:
Once you recover your PAN details, you can return to the e-filing portal and complete the linking process. The Economic Times
