An e‑PAN (digital PAN card) is an electronically signed document issued by the Indian Income Tax Department. It holds the same legal status as a physical PAN card for financial and tax purposes—only with instant delivery via email, and zero paperwork or charges.
Key Benefits at a Glance:
Feature | Instant e‑PAN Highlights |
---|---|
Speed | Issued in under 2 minutes |
Cost | Absolutely free |
Convenience | 100% online—no forms or documents |
Format & Use | PDF with QR code, instantly usable |
Paperless | Goes directly into your inbox—no delivery wait |
Table of Contents
Who Can Apply for Instant e‑PAN?
To qualify, you must:
- Be an individual Indian resident (not already holding a PAN)
- Possess a valid Aadhaar number linked to your mobile
- Be 18 years or older
- Not be classified as a Representative Assessee under Section 160
Step-by-Step: Get Your Instant e‑PAN
- Visit incometax.gov.in → click Instant e-PAN
- Select Get New e-PAN
- Enter your Aadhaar number, agree to the terms, and click Continue
- Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile
- Confirm your details, accept the declaration
- Instantly receive an acknowledgement number
- Download your e‑PAN PDF—password protected using your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format
You’ll receive your PDF e‑PAN in under 2 minutes, ready for download or print.
Check Application Status or Re-download
- Without login: click Check Status / Download PAN on the Instant e‑PAN page, enter Aadhaar and OTP, then download if available
- With login: log into e‑Filing → Services → View/Download e-PAN, enter Aadhaar, OTP, and download
Common FAQs
Is it really free?
Ans: Yes, no charges or hidden fees.
Can I reapply?
Ans: Only if you haven’t already received a PAN linked to your Aadhaar.
Do you get a physical card?
Ans: No, the PDF is the official document; you may request a physical card separately.
What if OTP fails?
Ans: Ensure your Aadhaar mobile is active; if issues persist, contact UIDAI at 1947.