What is PAN

PAN is an acronym for "Permanent Account Number." In India, PAN is required to conduct high-value financial transactions, operate bank accounts, receive a salary, sell a property, buy an apartment, etc.

Foreign companies need to quote PAN when collecting invoice payments from India. Foreign citizens living in the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, or foreign nationals working in India such as International sailors/sportspersons - they all can get their PAN Number from India.

After due diligence of the PAN Application, Income Tax department of India allots PAN Number. Initially, Applicants receive PAN Number by e-mail in 5 to 10 working days. Subsequently, receive a plastic card shipped through International Speed Post.

International Customer Care

Applicants receive the international customer care and end-to-end professional services to get PAN Card from India.

Applicants who live in India apply for PAN through NSDL, UTI ITSL, and receive help from the local auditors / chartered accountants. However, that is not a recommended path for NRI, Foreign nationals, and Foreign business firms due to difficulties faced in dealing with paper-works required by government organizations in India.

With professional support, applicants avoid common issues such as incorrect details on the application form, lost documents in transit, spelling mistake, missing photo, possible duplicates, signatures at wrong places, etc.

Pan Card for NRI

Non-Resident Indian (NRI), who are India Citizens can get PAN Number by applying PAN Card for NRI. Only photocopies of the applicant's India passport along with proof of address is required.

The passport must be valid at the time of application. Aadhaar is not required to apply for PAN Card as an NRI.

Apply PAN Card (Form 49A - India Citizen)

Pan Card for Foreign Nationals

Foreign Citizens can obtain a PAN number from India in a faster time and with minimum documents. Can OCI get PAN Card? Yes, Overseas Citizens of India can get PAN numbers from India. Foreign nationals benefit from International customer service for their application. Foreign citizens and OCI need PAN for India bank accounts.

If the applicant has a valid India visa or OCI, there is no need to obtain a notary or apostille.

Apply PAN Card (Form 49AA - Foreign Citizen)

Company PAN Card

Companies and all types of business firms registered outside of India can get their PAN Number. Foreign company does not need to have a local presence in India. Expert assistance is available throughout the application process.

When Foreign Organizations receive payment from India against an invoice, payer in India may deduct taxes at source (TDS). Deductor will deposit such withheld taxes directly to the Income Tax Department of India by quoting PAN Number of the Foreign Company. Subsequently, the foreign company may need to claim back the deducted tax amount by filing returns to ITD.

Without a PAN Number, foreign companies could face deductions at a higher percentage rate. International companies furnish a corporate PAN number to manage taxes withheld & get invoices paid.

Apply PAN Card (Form 49AA - Foreign Company)

How to Apply PAN Card Online

Individuals begin their application online (New PAN or Changes to existing PAN) and then submit a couple of proof documents.

Identify the type of applicant - (a) Individual with India Passport (b) Individual with Foreign Passport (c) Company registered outside of India
Open application page as per the type of applicant by clicking Form 49A or Form 49AA
Enter the applicant details. Provide the name and address of the applicant. Spelling must accurately match as per proof documents.
Make an online payment of fees. The price includes the shipping of PAN Card to the applicant's international address
Submit proof of name and a proof of address over e-mail for review, and then send physical copies to India by post or courier. Processing starts after receipt of physical documents in India.
Once PAN Number allotment is complete, the applicant will first receive electronic PAN by E-mail. Later, International Speed Post delivers a plastic PAN card at the applicant's overseas address.

Make changes on existing PAN?

Those who already have PAN number may need to update address, surname, or even date of birth. There is no need to update PAN for change of citizenship.

Applicants can also request for a reprint of PAN Card if they lost the old card, or if the photo on the card is damaged. Applicant must know their PAN Number to request for changes.

Apply PAN Changes (Form CSF)

Pan Card Photo

Individual applicants are required to paste two passport-sized photographs on the PAN Application form. Generally sizes used are (1) 25mm x 35mm or (2) 35mm x 35mm. The background color can be white or light blue.

The photo can have a matte or glossy finish. Use photographs obtained from a local photo center, kiosks, Costco, Walgreens, or other photo studios. Applicants must avoid using ordinary printer paper to print at home.

Business or Company PAN Card applicants do not need to provide any photo. Use the company's seal or rubber stamp.

Documents Required for PAN Card

Individual Applicants must provide supporting documents to establish - (1) Proof of Identity and (2) Proof of Address

Company Applicants will need to provide the Certificate of Incorporation and a proof of address for the business firm.

Applicants must avoid submitting originals and use only photocopies for supporting documents along with PAN Card Application.

PAN is India's Tax ID

Tax ID number is helpful for government regulators to identify taxpayers and also the parties who are involved in financial transactions.

For example, in the USA, individuals use SSN or ITIN as their tax identification number. Companies in the USA use EIN as the Tax Id. In the UK, individuals use National Insurance Number (NI) as the Tax ID, and companies use Corporation Tax Number. Likewise, PAN is the Tax ID for India. PAN is the tax identification number issued by a government agency undertaking direct tax collection of the Government of India (Income Tax Department of India).

Fees for PAN Card

Applicants make a one-time payment during application. The price list is published online for NRI, OCI, and Business firms.

Price already includes government fees, consultation charges, and also the international delivery of PAN Card to all countries - including USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, Netherlands, etc.

Change of mind before submission of documents to PAN Officials? No problem, a fair refund policy provides coverage to all applicants.

Track PAN Status

The applicant will receive an acknowledgment number after the submission of PAN application documents. Use coupon number to track PAN Card status online directly with PAN Officials.

It's simple to locate the PAN application and track the status online. Additionally, the customer care team sends updates to applicants by e-mail for every milestone.

Get PAN Number in 24 hours

Is it possible to get PAN Number in one day? There have been announcements in the past that PAN number will be issue in 24 hours. Have there been any NRI who lives outside India and have got PAN number in 24 hours?

The short answer is - NO. It is impossible for an applicant living outside India to get PAN Number that soon. The process involves sending signed documents with photographs for processing.

PAN officials need to scrutinize the ID documents and validate that the applicant never received a PAN number before. There are paper-work to scan the signature, photo, and create an electronic version of PAN card with digital signature.

Further, both the residents of India and Non-residents all need to send signed documents to same PO box / address for processing. They amount to thousands of documents received in a day.

Though PAN officials take utmost care in processing those documents, it is common to see applicants complaining the documents were damaged or lost at the facility. Considering the complex process and thousands of documents collected, it is a great achievement from PAN officials to issue PAN number in 5 to 7 working days for almost every applicant.

For foreign applicants, the success rate is better when having an agent representing on their behalf. The agent will submit foreign applications in-person and liaise with PAN officials during every stage of processing.

What is PAN Card or PAN Number

Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a unique number allotted by the Income Tax Department of India. Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Foreign Nationals, & Foreign Companies - they all may need PAN Number. PAN Card is available in the digital format and also a laminated tamper-proof card.

Why do I need a PAN Card?

Individuals and companies must quote their Permanent Account Number (PAN) along with any payments due to Income Tax Department. They must also PAN number on most financial transactions - fixed deposits, property purchase, investing in stocks/shares, engage in business activities, etc.

Difference between NRI PAN Card and normal PAN Card?

For NRI / OCI / Foreign Citizens, the application form must carry International Taxation AO Codes. Pan Card Express will help you with the correct International Taxation AO Code.

How significant is the Communication address that I provide on application?

Indian Income Tax Department sends official communication to the address mentioned on the application form. PAN Card is delivered only to the address on the proof document. So to avoid any inconveniences in the future, please ensure that your communication address is up-to-date in the database of the Income Tax Department of India.

Who will process PAN applications?

PAN Services Units from the Indian Income Tax Department will process the PAN Card applications through UTI ITSL / NSDL.

Are NRI, OCI, and Foreign Citizens eligible to get Aadhaar?

Aadhaar is not mandatory for PAN when the applicant resides outside India. Visit UIDAI Portal to learn about Aadhaar eligibility.

I forgot my PAN Number. Can you help me find my PAN using my name and address?

PAN Number is confidential. You must know your PAN Number allotted to you by the Income Tax Department of India. Call international NRI customer care for options.

Can I person have more than one PAN Number?

No. A person or business is allowed to have only one PAN Number allotted. If you have more than one PAN Number, you are required to surrender them.

How do I update to a new address on my existing PAN Card?

Please apply here to update your current address and also reprint a duplicate PAN Card.

I lost my old PAN Card. How do I get a new one?

You need to apply for a reprint of your PAN Card by quoting the PAN Number of your lost card.

During reprint of lost/damaged PAN Card, Can I also request to update address/photo/e-mail?

Yes. Together in one application form - you may request to print a duplicate PAN Card and also ask for a change in other details.

I am a foreign Citizen now. I had a PAN Number earlier when I was an Indian Citizen. Do I need to apply for another new PAN Number?

No. You must use the same PAN Number allotted to you when you were an Indian Citizen.

Apply for a reprint of a duplicate card quoting the same PAN Number. You may have changed citizenship, but your PAN Number remains the same.

PAN Format

Permanent Account Number would look like ABCPLnnnnS. Total of 10 characters/digits with below logic:

The first three characters i.e. "ABC" in the above PAN, are alphabetic series running from AAA to ZZZ.
The fourth character i.e., "P," stands for the Individual status of the applicant.
Fifth character i.e., "L" in the above PAN, represents the first character of the PAN holder's last name/surname.
The next four characters, i.e., "nnnn" in the PAN format, are sequential numbers running from 0001 to 9999.
Last character i.e., "S" in the PAN format, is an alphabetic check digit.