PAN Card Status Check 2026 — NSDL + UTIITSL + Instant e-PAN

Quick answer. PAN cards in India are issued by two service providers on behalf of the Income Tax Department: Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL. The portal you check status on depends on where you applied. You can also get an Instant e-PAN (free, in 10 minutes) directly from the Income Tax Department portal if you have an Aadhaar with linked mobile number. Status check methods, in order of speed:

1. Instant e-PAN — incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal → Instant e-PAN — issued in 10 minutes if mobile linked to Aadhaar.
2. NSDL/Protean PAN status — tin.tin.nsdl.com/pantan/StatusTrack.html.
3. UTIITSL PAN status — trackpan.utiitsl.com.

Statutory reply timeline: 15 working days for new PAN, 10 days for correction/reprint. Beyond that, file an RTI to your Assessing Officer (AO) or to CPIO, CBDT.

If your Aadhaar has a linked mobile number, you can get an Instant e-PAN in ~10 minutes for free.

1. Open incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal.
2. Click Instant e-PAN.
3. Enter your Aadhaar number + mobile number (the one linked).
4. Verify OTP.
5. Click Get e-PAN. The e-PAN is issued and emailed.

Eligibility for Instant e-PAN: must NOT already have a PAN, must have Aadhaar, must have mobile linked to Aadhaar, must be Indian resident.

For PAN applications submitted via Protean (NSDL):

1. Open tin.tin.nsdl.com/pantan/StatusTrack.html.
2. Pick Application Type: New PAN or Change/Correction.
3. Enter your 15-digit Acknowledgement Number (from the receipt at the time of application).
4. Click Submit. Status displays: Under Process, Dispatched, Delivered.

Track by name + DOB (if you've lost the acknowledgement):

1. Same page, scroll down → Track by Name.
2. Enter last name, first name, middle name, DOB (DD/MM/YYYY).
3. Click Submit.

For PAN applications submitted via UTIITSL (UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Ltd):

1. Open trackpan.utiitsl.com/PANONLINE.
2. Enter Application Coupon Number OR PAN Number.
3. Enter DOB + captcha.
4. Click Submit.

If you've already received your PAN and just want to verify it's active:

1. Open incometax.gov.in → log in (PAN + password) OR Verify PAN (no login needed).
2. The status (Active, Inactive, De-activated) is shown on the dashboard.
3. PAN-Aadhaar link status is also visible here. As of 2026, PAN must be linked to Aadhaar by 31 March 2026 to remain active (per current CBDT notification).

• NSDL / Protean — tininfo@protean-tinpan.com · 020-27218080 (9 AM-6 PM Mon-Sat).
• UTIITSL — utiitsl.gsd@utiitsl.com · 022-67931300.

If helpline doesn't resolve in 7 days, file an RTI:

To CPIO, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), North Block, New Delhi - 110001
Subject: RTI under §6(1) — PAN application stuck
1. Current status of PAN application Acknowledgement Number [XXXXX], filed on [date].
2. Reason for delay beyond the 15-working-day SLA.
3. Action plan + estimated date of issuance.
4. SLA breach data — % of applications delayed beyond 15 days for FY 2025-26 in [Your] zone.

Use RTI Drafter to generate. Statutory reply: 30 days under §7(1) RTI Act 2005.

If RTI doesn't help and amount/inconvenience is significant, escalate to your Income Tax Ombudsman (one per zone — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, etc.). Address listed at incometax.gov.in.

• Mandatory linking deadline: 31 March 2026 (per current CBDT notification).
• Penalty for late linking: Rs 1,000 (CBDT Notification 17/2022).
• If not linked, PAN becomes Inoperative — your bank, mutual fund, equity, ITR all start blocking.
• Link via: incometax.gov.in/eportal → Link Aadhaar.

15 working days for the physical card via NSDL/UTIITSL. Instant e-PAN via Aadhaar OTP: 10 minutes (e-PAN only, physical card still takes 15 days).

1. File a Reprint Request via protean-tinpan.com → Reprint PAN.
2. Cost: Rs 50 (e-PAN download) or Rs 107 (physical card delivered).
3. Timeline: 10 working days.

You missed the PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline. PAN is suspended until you link + pay the Rs 1,000 fine. Re-activation: 30-45 days after payment.

Only one PAN per Aadhaar is permitted. If a duplicate is detected during linking, file a complaint with CBDT for de-duplication.

Yes — protean-tinpan.com → PAN verification supports 1-50 PANs lookup, returns Active / Inactive. Free for registered users.

PAN is mandatory for home loans. Compare options:

• HDFC Home Loans — hdfc.com/housing-loans
• SBI Home Loans — homeloans.sbi
• LIC Housing Finance — lichousing.com

• How to apply for a PAN card online
• PAN card correction guide
• PMAY Beneficiary Status Check 2026
• RTI for stuck PAN application — sample template
• RTI Drafter — for stuck PAN applications

• Income Tax Department — PAN guidelines.
• Protean (NSDL) e-Gov — PAN service portal.
• UTIITSL — PAN service portal.
• CBDT Notification 17/2022 — PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline + penalty.
• The Right to Information Act, 2005 — §6(1), §7(1).

Last reviewed: 5 May 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team.