Why Is My PAN–Aadhaar Linking Failing, and How Do I Fix It?

I paid ₹1,000, so why does it say "Payments details not found"?

The e-Filing portal checks for your fee before it accepts a link request. If it can't find the payment, a pop-up says "Payments details not found". There are two usual reasons.

• It's too soon. The payment takes a few working days to reach the e-Filing portal. The official manual says to wait 4–5 working days after paying.
• The fee went under the wrong head. The portal looks for a payment under Major Head 0021 (income tax) and Minor Head 500 ("Other Receipts"), with the sub-type "Fee for delay in Linking Pan with Aadhaar". A payment under another head, such as self-assessment tax, is not matched to linking.

When the payment is found, the pop-up says "Your payment details are verified" and you can continue.

1. Start from Link Aadhaar on the e-Filing portal

   Go to incometax.gov.in. Under Quick Links, click Link Aadhaar. You don't need to log in. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number and click Validate.

   You'll know it worked when the portal either shows "Your payment details are verified" or offers Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax.

2. Pay the fee through e-Pay Tax, under the right head

   Click Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax. Verify your PAN and mobile with an OTP. On the Income Tax tile, click Proceed. Select the relevant tax year, then payment type Other Receipts (500) and the sub-type Fee for delay in Linking Pan with Aadhaar. The ₹1,000 is pre-filled under Others. Pay by net banking, card or another listed mode.

   You'll know it worked when you can download a challan receipt showing a CIN (Challan Identification Number), Minor Head 500 and ₹1,000.

   If the amount is not pre-filled or the head looks different: stop and go back. Don't type the amount under another head.

3. Wait 4–5 working days

   Save the challan PDF. Count working days, not calendar days. Weekends and bank holidays don't count.

4. Validate PAN and Aadhaar again

   Open Link Aadhaar again, enter PAN and Aadhaar, and click Validate.

   You'll know it worked when the pop-up says "Your payment details are verified". Click Continue.

   If it still says "Payments details not found": open the challan PDF and check the minor head and sub-type. Then call the e-Filing helpdesk on 1800 103 0025 with the CIN.

5. Fill the details and enter the OTP

   Enter the details the form asks for and click Link Aadhaar. Type the 6-digit OTP sent to the mobile number you entered, and click Validate.

   You'll know it worked when the portal says the request for linking has been submitted successfully.

6. Check the link status

   The request goes to UIDAI for checking. If the status says it is pending with UIDAI, check again later. How to check →

What if I paid under the wrong head or year?

It can happen if you pick self-assessment tax, or a payment type other than "Other Receipts (500)". The portal then may not match the money to linking.

• Check the challan first. The PDF shows the major head, minor head, year and amount.
• We could not find an official fix that moves a wrong-head payment to the linking fee. e-Filing FAQs from 2022, as reproduced on news sites, reportedly said there is no provision to refund fees paid under Minor Head 500.
• Ask before you pay again. Call the e-Filing helpdesk on 1800 103 0025 with the CIN. Ask whether the payment can be used, adjusted or claimed back. Your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (AO, the tax officer for your PAN) may also be able to help.
• Year: the e-Pay Tax screen now asks for a tax year. Pick the one the portal offers for this fee. If your challan shows a different year and the link fails, raise it with the helpdesk.

How do you fix a name, date of birth or gender mismatch?

Linking compares your PAN record with your Aadhaar record. UIDAI says the date of birth and gender should be exactly the same in both. For the name, a small difference (like an initial instead of a full middle name) can pass with an Aadhaar OTP sent to the mobile registered with Aadhaar. A completely different name fails, and you must correct PAN or Aadhaar.

Which side should you correct?

Correct the record that is wrong compared with your documents, such as your birth certificate, Class 10 certificate or passport. Use this table. To compare the two names first, try our PAN vs Aadhaar name checker.

1. Compare the two records side by side

   Use your e-PAN and an e-Aadhaar downloaded today, not an old printout. Check spelling, word order, date of birth and gender.

2. Decide which record to correct

   Match both against your main documents. Correct the one that differs from them.

3. Apply for the correction

   For PAN, file Form CR-01 at Protean or UTIITSL with proof. For Aadhaar, use UIDAI's update service.

   You'll know it worked when you get an acknowledgement number (PAN) or an update request number (Aadhaar).

4. Wait for the update to finish

   Track the correction until it shows completed. Download the new e-PAN or e-Aadhaar and check the fixed field.

5. Try Link Aadhaar again

   If you already paid the ₹1,000 fee, the portal should find it. Validate, fill the details and enter the OTP.

   If it still fails: use the centre option below.

6. Use biometric authentication at a PAN centre

   The e-Filing FAQs say that if linking still fails, you can use biometric-based authentication at dedicated centres of Protean or UTIITSL. Carry your PAN, Aadhaar and the ₹1,000 challan copy. A charge applies for the biometric check; ask the centre for the current amount and a receipt.

What if my Aadhaar is already linked with another PAN?

One Aadhaar can be linked to only one PAN, and the other way round. The portal shows an error if your PAN is linked to some other Aadhaar, or your Aadhaar to some other PAN. This can happen when a person has two PANs, or a family member's Aadhaar was used by mistake.

The official manual says to contact your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) to delink the wrong one. Only then can you link the correct pair.

1. Find your Assessing Officer

   The e-Filing portal has a Know Your AO service. It shows your AO's ward or circle and contact details. How to find your AO →

2. Ask the AO in writing to delink

   Give your PAN, your Aadhaar number, a copy of both cards and a short note saying which link is wrong. Keep a copy or the email you sent.

   You'll know it worked when the wrong link disappears from the link status.

3. Link the right pair

   Use Link Aadhaar again. If you have two PANs, keep one and surrender the other; holding two is not allowed. Surrender a duplicate PAN →

Why is the OTP not coming?

Two different OTPs can come up during linking:

• The link-request OTP goes to the mobile number you enter in the form. Type a number you have with you right now.
• The Aadhaar OTP goes to the mobile registered with Aadhaar. UIDAI uses it, for example, when your name differs slightly between PAN and Aadhaar.

If the Aadhaar-registered number is old or lost, update it at an Aadhaar centre. The OTP can't be sent to any other number. Other quick checks: wait a few minutes, check the SIM has signal, turn off any DND or spam filter, and don't press resend many times.

Why is my PAN still inoperative after linking?

Linking and reactivation are not instant. Under Rule 162 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026, an inoperative PAN becomes operative again within 30 days of linking. Until then, you may still see higher TDS (tax deducted at source) and no refunds.

• First check the link status. If it isn't "linked" yet, the request may still be pending with UIDAI.
• If it shows linked and more than 30 days have passed, contact your Assessing Officer or the e-Filing helpdesk.

What an inoperative PAN means and how it affects TDS and refunds is covered in our inoperative PAN guide.

My PAN was made with an Aadhaar Enrolment ID. What now?

Some people got a PAN using their Aadhaar Enrolment ID, before their Aadhaar number was issued (applications made before 1 October 2024). The e-Filing FAQs say these people had to complete linking with their actual Aadhaar number by 31 December 2025 (Notification No. 26/2025 of 3 April 2025). If they didn't, the PAN became inoperative from 1 January 2026.

If you missed it, use the same Link Aadhaar service with your 12-digit Aadhaar number. The official pages we checked don't say clearly whether the ₹1,000 fee applies to every Enrolment ID case. Follow what the portal asks for, and call the e-Filing helpdesk if it looks wrong.

I'm exempt from linking. Why does the portal ask me to pay?

These people don't have to link PAN with Aadhaar: residents of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya; non-residents; people aged 80 or more; and people who are not Indian citizens.

• If you choose to link anyway, the portal still asks for the ₹1,000 fee. It can't tell that you are exempt when you start a link request.
• If your PAN shows inoperative even though you are exempt, the tax records may not show your exemption. For example, your residential status may still be "resident". Contact your Assessing Officer with proof.
• If you don't need to link and your PAN works, you don't have to do anything.

How do you check whether the link worked?

On incometax.gov.in, use Link Aadhaar Status under Quick Links, with your PAN and Aadhaar. If linked, the portal shows a message saying so. If the request is pending with UIDAI, check again later. Full steps: check PAN–Aadhaar link status.

An SMS check has also been widely reported, in this format, sent to 567678 or 56161: UIDPAN <12-digit Aadhaar> <10-digit PAN>. We could not confirm on a current official page that it still works, so use the portal first.

What can go wrong, and how do you fix it?

Bottom line

Don't pay ₹1,000 twice. Most failed links are fixed by waiting 4–5 working days, checking the challan's head, correcting the record that doesn't match, or asking your AO to delink. For portal and payment problems, call the e-Filing helpdesk on 1800 103 0025. For PAN corrections, call Protean on 020-27218080 or UTIITSL on 033-40802999.