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

If you live abroad: see the NRI PAN, Aadhaar and Income Tax guide for fixing PAN inoperative, refund and ITR notice from abroad.

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 — [email protected] · 020-27218080 (9 AM-6 PM Mon-Sat).
• UTIITSL — [email protected] · 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.