Linking of Aadhaar card to PAN card is mandatory to file income tax returns. However, the Union Finance Ministry notified in the current Union Budget that Aadhaar card can be used interchangeably to PAN for certain transactions.

It also stated that those who do not have PAN card can also file their income tax returns using their Aadhaar card.

In this context, the income tax department said that those who filed their income tax returns (ITR) using their Aadhaar will be issued PAN automatically to link the two databases.

The CBDT on August 30 issued a notification in this regard stating that a person who furnished his/her ITR using Aadhaar shall be deemed to have applied for allotment of their PAN and they would be issued PAN.

There is no need to submit any other proofs as Aadhaar card is sufficient. This rule would come into effect from September 1.

Earlier, the CBDT Chairman stated that those file their ITR using Aadhar cad would be suo motu allotted PAN as part of a new arrangement to link the two databases.

As Aadhaar card contains all crucial information including date of birth, gender, photo and address which is also essential for PAN card, it can be automatically issued to the persons who file their income tax returns with their Aadhaar card.

More than 120 crore Aadhaar cards have been issued in the country while there are only 41 crore PAN numbers.

Over 22 crore PAN cards are linked with their Aadhaar cards. The linking of both Aadhaar card and PAN is mandatory to file ITR by the law.

Yet, several people do not have PAN. Considering the need, the central government allowed taxpayers to file their ITR with their Aadhaar number. Those who do not have their Aadhaar card can quote their enrolment ID.

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