Those possessing more than one permanent account numbers face penalty if they do not surrender the additional card by February 23, the income tax department said on Monday.

It has set up help desks in IT offices all over the country for the purpose. Anybody can also surrender his extra PAN to the assessing officer and on the department's web-site. One can also surrender at the Aayakar Sampark Kendras.

The department has found people usinf forged papers to get duplicate and fictitious PANs and has initiated action against offenders who were indulging in these practices.