The CBDT today extended the deadline for the PAN-Aadhaar linking to June 30, 2018. The policy-making body of the tax department issued an order extending the deadline from the current last date of March 31.

The order said the deadline for PAN-Aadhaar linking for filing I-T returns is being extended after "consideration of the matter".

It is understood that the latest order by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has come in the backdrop of the Supreme Court, earlier this month, directing extension of the March 31 deadline for linking Aadhaar with various other services.

The apex court ordered for the extension in the deadline till the five-judge constitution bench delivers its judgment on petitions challenging the validity of the biometric scheme and the enabling law.

This is a fourth extension given by the government for individuals to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) with their biometric ID (Aadhaar).

The government has now made quoting of Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns (ITRs) as well as obtaining a new PAN.

Section 139 AA (2) of the Income Tax Act says that every person having PAN as on July 1, 2017, and eligible to obtain Aadhaar, must intimate his Aadhaar number to the tax authorities.

As per updated data till March 5, over 16.65 crore PANs, out of the total about 33 crore, have been linked with Aadhaar.
The earlier deadlines for linking the two databases were July 31, August 31 and December 31, 2017, with the last being March 31 this year.

If you are already a registered user at income tax e-filing website
If you are already filing income tax returns, chances are that your PAN is already linked with Aadhaar if you have mentioned it while filing income tax return in the previous assessment years. It is done by the income tax department in case details of both are already available with it.

You can check if your Aadhaar is already linked to your PAN by visiting the income tax e-filing website www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

Login to the website by entering PAN (User ID), password and your date of birth. Once you are logged in and your account opens, click on 'Profile Settings' tab and select the last option 'Link Aadhaar'.

The screen will show the message, 'Your PAN is already linked to Aadhaar number XXXX1234'.

In case your PAN is not linked to Aadhaar then a form will appear where you will be required to enter details - name, date of birth and gender as per PAN records. Next your Aadhaar number. Click on submit after entering the captcha code appearing on the screen.

Once submitted, a success message will be displayed on your screen.

For non- registered users
If you don't want to register yourself at the e-filing website, there is another way using which you can link your PAN and Aadhaar. A hyperlink has been provided at the homepage of the e-filing website and also on the income tax website http://incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/default.aspx.

Just click on 'Link Aadhaar' on the e-filing website. A new form will appear where you are required to enter details - PAN, Aadhaar number, Name as per Aadhaa r.

If your aadhaar card has only year of birth, then you must also tick the option: 'I have only year of birth in Aadhaar card'

Enter the captcha code and click on submit. Once submitted successfully, a message will be displayed on your screen showing your PAN is successfully linked to Aadhaar.

Other methods
a) By sending an SMS to PAN service providers
If you are unable to link your PAN and Aadhaar using the e-filing website of the department then there are other ways for linking PAN and Aadhaar.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in its notification dated June 29, 2017 has provided other methods to link PAN and Aadhaar other than the methods mentioned above.

You can link your PAN and Aadhaar by sending a simple SMS. You can send an SMS to either of the PAN service providers namely NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited or UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITL).

You can simply send an sms in a specific format using a keyword to the either 567678 or 56161.

The format is: UIDPAN<12 digit Aadhaar><10 digit PAN>

For example, if your Aadhaar number is 111122223333 and PAN is AAAPA9999Q. Then you are required to send sms to 567678 or 56161 as
UIDPAN 111122223333 AAAPA9999Q

NSDL and UTI won't charge you for this. However, SMS charges as levied by the mobile operator will be applicable.

The format is: UIDPAN<12 digit Aadhaar><10 digit PAN>

For example, if your Aadhaar number is 111122223333 and PAN is AAAPA9999Q. Then you are required to send sms to 567678 or 56161 as
UIDPAN 111122223333 AAAPA9999Q

NSDL and UTI won't charge you for this. However, SMS charges as levied by the mobile operator will be applicable.

b) Manual linking by filing up a form (Annexure-I)

As per the above mentioned notification, CBDT has provided for a manual method as well to ease the problems of taxpayers in case the person is unable to sort out the problem of mismatch in the data of PAN and Aadhaar through other methods.

You can visit a service centre of PAN service provider, NSDL or UTIITSL. You will be required to fill in the form 'Annexure-I' along with the supporting documents i.e. copy of PAN card and Aadhaar card.

Unlike online services, this service is not free of charge. An individual is required to pay a prescribed fee to them. The fee charged depends on whether while linking, correction is made in the PAN or Aadhaar details.

For any correction in the PAN details, the fee charged is Rs 110. On the other hand, for correcting Aadhaar details, the prescribed fee is Rs 25.

Biometric authentication is compulsory in case there is a major mismatch in data of PAN and Aadhaar.

Points to Note:
1. If using online methods, an Aadhaar OTP will be generated in case your name does not match that on your PAN card whereas your date of birth and gender matches. The OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered/linked to the Aadhaar number entered online. You will have to enter that OTP online to continue and complete the linking process.

2. It is advisable that in case there is a mismatch in the data of PAN and Aadhaar you get it corrected before trying to link the two numbers.