You will need a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card to prove you are paying your taxes in India. A PAN is a ten-digit alphanumeric code issued by the Income Tax Department of India. All existing taxpayers or persons who are required to file a return of income in India must possess a PAN. This important card can function as your residency permit and is accepted by most Indian people and institutions as a means of identification.
You’ll need to show your PAN card to open a landline connection and to deposit more than 50,000 INR in the bank. A tax advisor should be able to help you get a PAN card, or you can follow the steps below.
Getting a PAN card
Documents Required
- Copy of your passport
- Proof of residence
- Recent passport-sized photo (3.5 cm x 2.5 cm)
- Fee of Rs 94 (as of April 2009)
PAN Card Application Process
- Download and fill out the PAN application (Form 49A) from http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in or by clicking this link: http://law.incometaxindia.gov.in/DITTaxmann/IncomeTaxRules/pdf/itr62Form49A.pdf
- Attach a recent passport-sized photo to the application form.
- Attach a copy of your passport and a copy of proof of address, such as a utility bill.
- Submit your PAN application form, accompanying documents, and fee of Rs. 94 to a Tax Information Network Facilitation Center (TIN-FC) or PAN Center managed by National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL). You can find the address of the TIN-FC closest to you by searching at http://www.tin-nsdl.com/TINsearch.asp
- You should receive your PAN card at your Mumbai home within a month.
Apply Online
You can also apply for a PAN card online at https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/pan/index.html
FAQs
For a list of FAQs regarding PAN cards, please visit http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/PAN%20-%20FAQ_06162010.pdf
