How do I link PAN with Aadhaar?

By the India Law Simplified editorial team · Verified against the bare Acts & official portals · Updated 2026-07-28 · ~3 min read

⚡ Quick answer

Link your PAN with Aadhaar on the income-tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) under 'Link Aadhaar'. Since the free deadline has passed, you first pay a ₹1,000 late fee under Section 234H (via e-Pay Tax, minor head 500), then submit your PAN and Aadhaar; the status updates in a few days. It matters because an unlinked PAN becomes 'inoperative' — you can't file your ITR, your TDS is deducted at higher rates, and refunds are withheld.

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Linking your PAN with Aadhaar is no longer optional — an unlinked PAN simply stops working for most financial purposes. The good news is that linking takes a few minutes online. This guide gives you the exact steps, the ₹1,000 fee, how to check whether yours is already linked, and what an 'inoperative' PAN actually blocks, so you can fix it quickly.

1Why it matters: the 'inoperative' PAN

If your PAN isn't linked to your Aadhaar, it becomes inoperative. That's not just a technicality — an inoperative PAN causes real problems:

You cannot file your income-tax return
TDS and TCS are deducted at higher rates (often 20%)
Any refund due to you is withheld
You can't complete many financial transactions (opening accounts, large investments, etc.)

⚠️ ImportantLinking restores your PAN to 'operative' status, usually within about 7–30 days of paying the fee and submitting the request.

2Step by step: how to link

The whole process is online on the income-tax portal:

Go to incometax.gov.in → Quick Links → 'Link Aadhaar'.
First pay the ₹1,000 late fee under Section 234H via e-Pay Tax (select Assessment Year and minor head 500). Wait a short while for the payment to reflect.
Return to 'Link Aadhaar', enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, and submit.
Check the status later under Quick Links → 'Link Aadhaar Status'.

✅ TipMake sure your name, date of birth and gender match exactly between PAN and Aadhaar. A mismatch is the most common reason linking fails — get the details corrected first if they don't match.

3How to check if you're already linked

Before paying, check your current status — you may already be linked. On the income-tax portal, go to Quick Links → 'Link Aadhaar Status', enter your PAN and Aadhaar, and it tells you whether they're linked. If they are, you're done; if not, follow the steps above.

4Who is exempt

A few categories are exempt from mandatory linking, including non-resident Indians (NRIs), residents of certain states (Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya), individuals aged 80 or above, and foreign nationals. If you fall in an exempt category, your PAN stays operative without linking.

Key takeaways

An unlinked PAN is 'inoperative' — no ITR filing, higher TDS, and withheld refunds.
Link on incometax.gov.in → Quick Links → 'Link Aadhaar' after paying the ₹1,000 Section 234H fee.
Pay the fee via e-Pay Tax (minor head 500) and wait for it to reflect before submitting.
Make sure name, DOB and gender match exactly across PAN and Aadhaar, or linking fails.
NRIs, 80+ individuals and a few states/categories are exempt from mandatory linking.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if PAN is not linked with Aadhaar?

The PAN becomes inoperative — you cannot file ITR, TDS/TCS is deducted at higher rates, refunds are withheld, and many financial transactions are blocked. Link it with the ₹1,000 fee to reactivate it.

How much is the fee to link PAN with Aadhaar now?

₹1,000 under Section 234H, since the free linking deadline has passed. You pay it through the e-Pay Tax facility (minor head 500) before submitting the linking request.

How long does it take for PAN to become operative after linking?

Usually within about 7–30 days of submitting the request after paying the fee. You can track it under 'Link Aadhaar Status' on the portal.

Do NRIs need to link PAN with Aadhaar?

No — non-resident Indians are exempt from mandatory PAN-Aadhaar linking, as are individuals aged 80+, residents of certain states, and foreign nationals. Their PAN remains operative without linking.