The PAN card is widely used across different sectors, from dealing with financial transactions to adhering to tax compliances. Considering its diverse usage for financial purposes, this important document was deactivated for many users.

Owing to various reasons, possession of more than one PAN Card has been made illegal in the country, and the Government of India has deactivated many PAN cards.

Keep reading to know how to activate inactive PAN Card, reasons for deactivation, prevention method, and much more.

With the help of your PAN card number and a valid mobile number, you can check the status of your PAN card online, at the convenience of your home, by following the steps given below:

Step 1: Visit the official website for Income Tax e-filing and tap on the “Verify PAN Status” option under the “Quick Links” section on the portal's homepage.

Step 2: Enter your PAN card number and other relevant details, such as name, date of birth, valid mobile number, etc., and press the “Continue” button.

Step 3: An OTP (One Time Password) will be sent to your mobile number which you must enter and choose the “Validate” option.

Step 4: Your current PAN card's active or inactive status will be displayed on your screen.

In case, upon checking the status of your PAN Card, you find out that your PAN card has been deactivated, you must write a letter addressed to the jurisdiction AO (Assessing Officer) in the Income Tax Department stating your request for reactivation of your PAN Card.

Along with the letter, you must not forget to attach the required documents stating that your PAN card was actively used for filing tax returns. The IT department may take 10-15 working days to accept and process your reactivation request.

For a hassle-free reactivation of your PAN Card, you must attach a photocopy of your PAN Card, indemnity bond, and copy of the last 3 Income Tax returns filed along with your letter to the AO.

There are different reasons for the deactivation of PAN cards by the Income tax department, some of which include the following: 

• Noncompliance with the regulations, such as holding duplicate or multiple PAN cards under the same individual.

• An inactive PAN card that has not been used for a long period of time in financial transactions may be deactivated.

• To avoid misuse of the PAN card obtained illegally, the IT department may deactivate a fraudulently obtained PAN card.

• A PAN card holder's death also leads to the PAN card's deactivation.

• Foreigners who intend to discontinue their financial transactions give up their PAN card to avoid misuse.

INDEMNITY BOND

I, …………., R/o ……….., do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:

My PAN is:

I am regularly assessed in your ward/ jurisdiction with PAN:

I have only one PAN, i.e - has been used for the last many years for filing my income tax returns. 

I do not have any other PAN with me, if any is allotted in your records, kindly deactivate the same. 

I undertake to indemnify the Income Tax Department for any loss that may be caused in the future. 

Kindly activate my PAN: 

The above statements are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. 

(Deponent)

VERIFICATION

Verified at New Delhi on this ………..(date) Day of ………. (month), ….(year), that the contents of the above affidavit are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. No part of it is false and nothing material has been concealed therefrom. 

(Deponent)

LETTER TO THE AO

The Assessing Officer of Income Tax,                                                           Dated: ………..

Ward No: ……..

Civic Centre 

New Delhi - 110002

Sub: Request for Activation of PAN Card No: ……. In the name of Mr. ……………

Respected Sir/ Madam, 

Through this application, I bring to your notice that PAN Card No: ……… was deactivated, and the current status on your Income Tax Department website is also deactivated, as the message “Your PAN card is deactivated by the department” is displayed while logging in. Due to this, I cannot file the Income Tax Return for the Assessment Year 20XX-XX.

In this regard, I request you please look into the matter as soon as possible and activate my PAN card status to enable me to file my income tax return for the assessment year 20XX-XX. The activation will also help me in migration to GST. 

For activation of my PAN card, I am enclosing the following documents: 

1. Photocopy of PAN card 

2. Indemnity bond 

3. Copies of the last 3 ITR files 

Please do what is necessary as soon as possible and help me comply with the IT department's norms. 

Details concerning the PAN card are mentioned in the Subject.

Name on PAN Card: ………

Father’s Name: ……..

Date of Birth: ……….

Residential Address: …………..

Yours faithfully, 

……………….

Recently, the Income Tax Department of India effectively drove to deactivate people's PAN cards with duplicate or multiple PAN cards, as many people have multiple PAN cards, which is illegal in India. 

A deactivated PAN card also blocks access to the e-filing login, which can create a hassle when filing income tax returns. Users with a deactivated PAN card cannot access the e-filing portal and cannot avail of various services like filing IT returns, viewing intimations, and e-response to ITD communication.

Deactivation of PAN cards by the Income Tax Department is always due to an underlying reason; sometimes, it may happen by mistake. To keep your PAN card from getting deactivated, you must ensure to:

• File your IT returns annually without any delay

• Link your PAN with your Aadhaar card at the earliest 

• Check your PAN card status at the e-filing portal regularly 

PAN card deactivation can lead to delays in financial transactions and other related work. Thus, it is necessary that you check the status of your PAN card on the e-filing portal from time to time. 

If your card has been deactivated, you must follow the mentioned procedures without any delay and ensure that you do not hold multiple PAN cards.