Government Issues Final Deadline for PAN-Aadhaar Linking ,Your PAN Could Become Inactive After December 31

The Indian government has made it mandatory to link your Permanent Account Number (PAN) with your Aadhaar card, setting a final deadline of December 31, 2025. Failure to comply with this directive will result in your PAN card becoming inoperative from January 1, 2026.This crucial step has been mandated to curb tax evasion, prevent the circulation of fake PAN cards, and streamline financial transactions. An inactive PAN will lead to significant disruptions in financial activities.Individuals will be unable to file Income Tax Returns (ITR), and any pending returns or tax refunds will be halted. Furthermore, banking transactions, investments in mutual funds, and stock market trading could be severely affected. Financial institutions will also deduct Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) at a much higher rate for those with an inoperative PAN.The deadline has been extended multiple times in the past, but the government has indicated that this is the final opportunity for individuals to link their documents. A fee of ₹1,000 is currently applicable for linking PAN with Aadhaar if it was not done by the initial due datesAccording to a notification from the Ministry of Finance, the mandate specifically applies to every person who was allotted a PAN based on an Aadhaar enrolment ID before October 1, 2024 They must provide their Aadhaar number to the Income Tax Department by the December 31, 2025 deadline.The process to link PAN and Aadhaar is straightforward and can be completed online through the official e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department. Users need to visit the website, select the "Link Aadhaar" option, enter their PAN and Aadhaar details, and validate the request through an OTP sent to their registered mobile number. After paying the requisite fee (if applicable), the linking process is completed.Citizens are strongly advised to complete this mandatory process well before the deadline to avoid any financial inconvenience and to ensure their PAN remains active for all future transactions.