How to Check PAN Card Active or Inactive Status?

PAN is commonly marked inoperative if it is not linked with your Aadhaar by the deadline or if there are serious KYC/duplicate issues in the Income Tax database.

'Inoperative' PAN is a valid PAN that is suspended temporarily for some functions, mainly because PAN-Aadhar is not linked. However, it can easily be reactivated. Conversely, an 'inactive' PAN is invalidated for more serious reasons by the Income Tax Department, and activating it requires a more formal process.

No, you only need your PAN details, and OTP received on your mobile to check if your PAN is active, as 'verify your PAN' and 'Link-Aadhaar statys' are pre-login services on the Income tax department's website.

You need to pay the PAN-Aadhaar late fee penalty, which is currently Rs. 1000, and submit the linking request on the official Income Tax Department's e-filing portal. Your PAN will usually become operative again within 7 to 30 days, after which you can re-check the status.

Contact your jurisdictional assessing officer (AO) through the e-filing portal or in writing, attach PAN copy and KYC proofs, and request PAN card activation. The reactivation may usually take 15-30 working days.