The Financial Ministry in the budget said the Aadhaar must be linked to the PAN Card for filing income tax returns. This voluntary linking will end in two days after which the PAN might be canceled.
From Saturday, it has been made mandatory for the Aadhaar to be quoted for both PAN and Income Tax returns. On Wednesday, in relation to this, the government notified amended income tax rules that make it mandatory.
This is as the government says will help Aadhaar enabled biometric identification. This will help check instances of multiple PANs and also keep an eye on tax evaders.
This linking is mandatory even if your income is below the tax limit. If one doesn’t file income tax return but have been issued both PAN and Aadhaar, then linking the two cards is mandatory. If not done so, the PAN will be vulnerable and will become invalid after July 1, 2017 as notified by the government. This has been mentioned in the section 139AA of the Act.
The Act said a large number of people, including senior citizens, students, entry level workforce, housewives and others who already have PAN and Aadhaar, but do not file Income Tax returns will have to link the two numbers.
In a recent interim order, the Supreme Court permitted a time window for those who possess PAN Card but do not have an Aadhar card. But no relief has been provided to PAN and Aadhaar card holders.
This linking of Aadhar and PAN cards can be done via the income tax department’s e-filing website.
