# PAN–Aadhaar link status: check, link and fix an inoperative PAN

> Check link status free on incometax.gov.in, pay the ₹1,000 late fee, then link with OTP. Who is exempt, why linking fails, and what an inoperative PAN costs you.

- URL: https://2search.in/knowledge/articles/oct-26/pan-aadhaar-link-status
- Genre: Government services
- Country: India
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Publisher: 2search (https://2search.in)

> **Quick answer:** Open **incometax.gov.in → Quick Links → Link Aadhaar Status**, enter your **PAN and Aadhaar** and click **View Link Aadhaar Status**. If it isn't linked, pay the **₹1,000 late fee** under **e-Pay Tax** ("Fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar"), wait for the payment to show, then submit **Link Aadhaar** with OTP. Until it's linked, your PAN is **inoperative**: refunds are held and **TDS/TCS is deducted at higher rates** (generally 20% or twice the normal rate).

> **Key takeaways**
> - Checking the status is **free** and needs **no login**.
> - The **₹1,000 fee** must be paid **before** you submit the link request — the order matters.
> - Name, date of birth and gender must **match** on PAN and Aadhaar, or the link fails.
> - Residents of **Assam, J&K and Meghalaya**, **non-residents**, people **80+** and non-citizens are exempt.
> - A PAN usually becomes **operative again within about 30 days** of linking.

If your bank asked for "valid PAN", your mutual fund KYC got stuck, or your salary TDS suddenly jumped, an unlinked PAN is often the reason. This guide shows how to check your status in a minute, how to link with the fee, how to fix mismatches, and what an inoperative PAN means for your money.



![PAN–Aadhaar link status: check, link and fix an inoperative PAN Breakdown & Visual Guide](/images/articles/pan-aadhaar-link-status/diagram.svg)

## How to check PAN–Aadhaar link status (free)

1. Go to **incometax.gov.in**. You don't need to log in.
2. Under **Quick Links**, click **Link Aadhaar Status**.
3. Enter your **10-character PAN** and **12-digit Aadhaar number**.
4. Click **View Link Aadhaar Status**.

What the message means:

| Message | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "Your PAN is already linked to given Aadhaar" | Done | Nothing |
| "Your Aadhaar–PAN linking request has been sent to UIDAI for validation" | Pending | Check again after a few days |
| "PAN not linked with Aadhaar" | Not linked | Pay the fee and link (below) |
| "PAN is linked with some other Aadhaar" | Linked to a different Aadhaar | Contact your Assessing Officer or the e-filing helpdesk |

You can also check by logging in: **Profile → Link Aadhaar** shows the status.

## Step 1: Pay the ₹1,000 late fee

1. On incometax.gov.in, go to **Quick Links → e-Pay Tax**.
2. Enter your **PAN** (twice) and **mobile number**, then the OTP.
3. Select the **Income Tax** tile and click **Proceed**.
4. Choose the **Assessment Year** shown for the fee (the portal pre-selects the right one in most cases) and **Type of Payment: Other Receipts (500)**.
5. Under "Others", enter **₹1,000** as the fee for delay in linking.
6. Pay through net banking, debit card, UPI or at the bank counter (challan).

> **Tip:** Pay using **e-Pay Tax** on the portal, not a generic challan. The portal tags the payment correctly so the link request can find it.

The payment takes **4–5 working days** to show on the portal.

## Step 2: Submit the link request

1. Go to **Quick Links → Link Aadhaar** (or **Profile → Link Aadhaar** after logging in).
2. Enter your **PAN and Aadhaar**, click **Validate**.
3. The portal confirms your fee payment. Click **Continue**.
4. Enter your **name as on Aadhaar** and your mobile number, tick the consent box.
5. Enter the **6-digit OTP** sent to your mobile and submit.
6. The request goes to UIDAI for validation. Check the status after a few days.

## Who must link, and who is exempt

**You must link** if you got a PAN on or before **1 July 2017**, or got a PAN using an **Aadhaar enrolment ID** (those people had until **31 December 2025** to update the actual Aadhaar number). New PANs issued using Aadhaar are linked automatically.

**You are exempt** if you are:

- A resident of **Assam, Jammu & Kashmir or Meghalaya**
- A **non-resident** under the Income-tax Act
- Aged **80 years or more** at any time during the previous year
- **Not a citizen** of India

> **Warning:** NRIs are exempt, but many NRIs' PANs still turned inoperative because their **residential status wasn't updated** with the tax department. Update it through your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer with proof (passport pages, visa) to restore the PAN.

## Why linking fails — and how to fix it

| Problem | How to fix |
| --- | --- |
| **Name mismatch** (spelling, initials, surname after marriage) | Correct the name on PAN through **Protean (NSDL)** or **UTIITSL**, or on Aadhaar through myAadhaar, so both match |
| **Date of birth mismatch** | Update the date of birth on one document with proof |
| **Gender mismatch** | Update gender on Aadhaar (allowed once) or PAN |
| **Mobile not linked to Aadhaar** | Link your mobile at an Aadhaar centre first — the OTP goes there |
| **Fee "not found"** | Wait 4–5 working days; make sure you used e-Pay Tax with the right type of payment |
| **PAN linked to another Aadhaar** | Raise a grievance on the e-filing portal or contact your Assessing Officer |

If names differ only slightly (for example, missing a middle name), the portal may offer **biometric-based linking** at designated PAN service centres for a fee.

## What an inoperative PAN means

An inoperative PAN isn't cancelled — but it stops working for most money matters until it's linked:

- **Refunds are not issued**, and **no interest** is paid for the period the PAN was inoperative.
- **TDS is deducted at a higher rate** — generally **20%**, or twice the normal rate if that's higher (section 206AA). On salary, it's deducted at the average rate or 20%, whichever is higher.
- **TCS is collected at a higher rate** — generally 5% or twice the normal rate (section 206CC).
- **Form 15G/15H** (to avoid TDS on interest) can't be used.
- Banks, brokers and mutual funds may freeze new investments or KYC updates.

> **Example:** You earn ₹50,000 interest on fixed deposits. With a valid PAN, TDS is 10% = ₹5,000. With an inoperative PAN, TDS is 20% = **₹10,000** — and you can't get the extra back as a refund until the PAN works again.

## How long until the PAN works again?

After the fee is paid and the link is accepted, the PAN generally becomes **operative within about 30 days**. You can check its status at **Quick Links → Verify Your PAN**.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I link PAN and Aadhaar for free now?

No, the free window has ended. Most people must pay the ₹1,000 late fee before linking, unless they are exempt.

### What is the last date to link PAN with Aadhaar?

The main deadline has passed. You can still link at any time after paying the ₹1,000 fee; the PAN stays inoperative until you do.

### How do I check if my PAN is operative?

Use Quick Links → Verify Your PAN on incometax.gov.in. Enter your PAN, name, date of birth and mobile number.

### Can I file ITR with an inoperative PAN?

You may be able to file, but refunds will be held and other processing can fail. Link first. See [how to file ITR online](/how-to-file-itr-online).

### Is SMS linking still available?

The e-filing portal is the main and most reliable route. Use incometax.gov.in for both linking and status.

### Will I get the ₹1,000 back if linking fails?

The fee stays valid against your PAN. Fix the mismatch and submit the link request again without paying a second time.

### Does an inoperative PAN affect my bank account?

Your account keeps working, but banks may restrict some transactions that need a valid PAN, and TDS on interest goes up.

## Sources

- [Income Tax Department — e-Filing portal](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/)
- [Angel One — PAN–Aadhaar linking 2026 after paying ₹1,000](https://www.angelone.in/news/personal-finance/pan-aadhaar-linking-2026-how-to-link-your-pan-online-after-paying-1-000-fee)
- [Protean — What an inoperative PAN means for TDS and TCS](https://proteantech.in/articles/pan-inoperative-tds-tcs-impact-deadline)
- [Business Today — Link PAN with Aadhaar after paying ₹1,000 (July 2026)](https://www.businesstoday.in/personal-finance/news/story/pan-aadhaar-linking-heres-how-to-link-your-pan-with-aadhaar-online-after-paying-rs-1000-fee-541446-2026-07-07)
- [IIFL — Consequences of not linking Aadhaar with PAN (2026)](https://www.iifl.com/blogs/other/consequences-not-linking-aadhaar-pan-card)