How to Check PAN–Aadhaar Link Status?

Which ways can you check the link status?

The Income Tax e-Filing portal is the official place to check. It offers two routes for the link itself, plus a separate check for the PAN's status.

Haven't linked yet? This page only covers checking. For the full linking process and the ₹1,000 fee, see how to link PAN with Aadhaar.

How do you check the status without logging in?

This is the quickest route. It needs no account, no OTP and no payment.

1. Open the e-Filing home page

   Type incometax.gov.in in your browser yourself. Don't follow links from messages. The address should start with https and end in .gov.in.

2. Click Link Aadhaar Status under Quick Links

   The Quick Links list is on the home page. One official help page calls the option Link Aadhaar Status. The current e-Filing user manual calls it Link Aadhaar/View Status, followed by Continue in a View Status tile. Pick whichever label you see.

   If you only see "Link Aadhaar": look for a View Status option on that page. Don't start a new link request just to see the status.

3. Enter the PAN and the Aadhaar number

   Type the 10-character PAN (for example, the dummy ABCPK1234X) and the 12-digit Aadhaar number. Then click View Link Aadhaar Status.

   If you get an error: check each character again. A zero typed as the letter O is a common slip.

4. Read the message on screen

   The manual says a message about your link status appears after the details are validated. Match it with the results table below.

   You'll know it worked when a status message appears on the same screen. Take a screenshot for your records.

How do you check the status after logging in?

If you have an e-Filing account, the status also sits in your profile.

1. Log in with your user ID and password

   Your user ID is usually your PAN. Logging in with Aadhaar as the user ID works only when PAN and Aadhaar are already linked.

   If you can't log in: use the no-login route instead. It gives the same link status.

2. Open the link status from the Dashboard or My Profile

   On the Dashboard, look for Link Aadhaar Status or Link Aadhaar. Or go to My Profile and find Link Aadhaar Status.

3. See whether your Aadhaar number is displayed

   The official help page says: if Aadhaar is linked, the Aadhaar number is displayed. If it is not linked, "Link Aadhaar Status" is displayed instead.

   You'll know it worked when your Aadhaar number appears in your profile.

What does each status result mean?

The official manual shows the messages as screenshots, so we describe them rather than quote them. Your screen may word them a little differently.

How do you check whether your PAN is operative?

The link status tells you about the link. It doesn't tell you whether the PAN is active. For that, use Verify Your PAN on the same portal. The user manual lists it as Verify PAN Status under Quick Links.

1. Open Verify Your PAN from Quick Links

   No login is needed. You need a mobile phone that is with you.

2. Fill the PAN, name, date of birth and mobile number

   Write the name exactly as on the PAN card. Then click Continue.

3. Enter the OTP and validate

   The OTP is valid for 15 minutes, and you get 3 tries. Click Validate.

   You'll know it worked when the PAN status appears on screen.

   If it says details don't match: check the spelling of your name and your date of birth against the PAN card.

The official manual does not list the exact result messages. It says the result is for information only. Questions about the result go to your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer. More on this tool: verify a PAN online.

Can you check the link status by SMS?

An SMS check has been widely reported for years. You send this message to 567678 or 56161:

UIDPAN <12-digit Aadhaar> <10-digit PAN>

We could not find this on a current official Income Tax page, so we can't confirm it still works. Normal SMS charges may apply. Use the portal first and treat SMS as a backup.

Can you check the status for a parent, spouse or child?

Yes. The no-login check asks only for a PAN and an Aadhaar number. No OTP goes to the person's phone. So you can check for a family member if they give you both numbers.

• Ask first. Use their numbers only with their permission.
• For Verify Your PAN, you also need their full name and date of birth. The OTP goes to whichever mobile number you enter.
• To link for them, things change. Linking is a request made in their name and needs an OTP. Do it only with them present and agreeing.
• Elderly parents: people aged 80 or more are exempt from linking. A "not linked" result is usually fine for them (see below).
• Children: a child with a PAN may have no Aadhaar yet. See PAN card for minors.

What if you are exempt from linking?

The e-Filing FAQs say the linking requirement doesn't apply to:

• residents of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, and Meghalaya;
• non-residents under the Income-tax Act;
• people aged 80 or more;
• people who are not Indian citizens.

If you are exempt, the status check will most likely show not linked, because no link was made. That alone is not a problem. The FAQs say exempt individuals are not affected by the consequences of a PAN becoming inoperative.

The tax records may not always know you are exempt, though. For example, the records may still show you as a resident. If your PAN shows as inoperative, contact your Assessing Officer with proof. You can also choose to link; the ₹1,000 fee still applies if you do.

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

Bottom line

Check your link status for free on incometax.gov.in with just your PAN and Aadhaar number. Linked means done; pending means wait; validation failed means fix and retry; not linked means link, unless you are exempt. Then confirm your PAN is operative with Verify Your PAN. For help, call e-Filing on 1800 103 0025 or Protean on 020-27218080.