Though a deadline for linking Aadhaar and PAN has not been specified, eleventh-hour tax return filers must keep in mind that income tax returns cannot be filed unless one links PAN number with Aadhaar.

Procedure It is quite simple to link your PAN with Aadhaar number if your name, date of birth and gender in both these documents match. You can simply click on the link that says ‘link Aadhar’ available in the e-filing portal ( www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in ) and fill in the requisite details and submit. After few seconds, your PAN and Aadhar will be linked.

The government has simplified this procedure further by introducing the linking through an SMS-based process. You can send SMS to 567678 or 56161 with details of Aadhar and PAN numbers in the following format — UIDPAN<12 digit Aadhaar><10 digit PAN>. You will get a confirmation message when the two are linked.

Problems and solutions In most cases, problems arise due to mismatch in the name In such case, in the same e-filing website, you can request for a one-time password (OTP) to be sent to your mobile number or enter the captcha provided on the site, which would help facilitate linking the two. Note that for the OTP to be sent, your gender and date of birth should remain the same in both the documents.

In the case of other mismatches, the same can be updated in the respective documents online. In case of Aadhaar ,you can update your details at https://ssup.uidai.gov.in/web/guest/ssup-home; and visit https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/pan/correctiondsc.html in case of correction in PAN. “Details such as what you are changing and why you are changing needs to be filled in a form and the correction may take about two-three weeks,” says Cleartax founder Archit Gupta.

If you are not digital-savvy, you can go to an authorised centre “For instance, if you want to change your PAN card details, apply for the same with the authorised PAN centres near your location. You need to submit your personal details along with your Aadhaar card. The correction could take about 21 days,” says Ashwin Kumar, a chartered accountant. A list of authorised centres for corrections in PAN and in Aadhaar is available in https://www.tin-nsdl.com/pan-center.html and https://www.egov-nsdl.co.in/uid.php.

In both these situations, if you are filing returns at the last minute, you may not be able to complete the process before the due date. However, you can still file late returns.

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