How to link Aadhaar with PAN step by step (after the deadline): pay ₹1,000, wait, link, check status
How to link Aadhaar with PAN, in 4 steps: (1) check you are not already linked, (2) pay the ₹1,000 fee on incometax.gov.in → e-Pay Tax choosing Income Tax and Other Receipts (500) — the free window is over, (3) once the payment is credited (usually within a few working days), use Link Aadhaar on the same portal, confirm your name as in Aadhaar and enter the Aadhaar OTP, (4) check Link Aadhaar Status. No login is needed. Your PAN normally becomes operative within 30 days.
Key facts Last verified: 25 Sep 2026
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | ₹1,000 (late fee), paid once | Income Tax Dept |
| Payment head | Income Tax → Other Receipts (500) | Income Tax Dept |
| Login needed? | No — “Link Aadhaar” works from Quick Links without logging in | Income Tax Dept |
| OTP goes to | The mobile number registered in Aadhaar | Income Tax Dept |
| PAN becomes operative | Within about 30 days after linking | Income Tax Dept |
The whole process in one line
Check status → pay ₹1,000 → wait for the payment to be credited → submit the link request with Aadhaar OTP → check status again. It takes about 10 minutes of your time, spread over a few days.
Example: Anil, a teacher in Kolhapur, found his refund stuck because his PAN was inoperative. He paid ₹1,000 on a Monday, the payment showed up by Friday, he linked in five minutes with the OTP on his phone, and a few weeks later his PAN was operative again.
Step 0 — Check if you are already linked
Many people are linked already and pay for nothing. On incometax.gov.in → Quick Links → Link Aadhaar Status, enter your PAN and Aadhaar. If it says linked, stop here. More help: check PAN–Aadhaar link status.
Before you start — keep these ready
- Your PAN and Aadhaar number
- Access to the mobile number registered in Aadhaar (for the OTP)
- Net banking, debit card, UPI or card to pay ₹1,000
- Your name exactly as in Aadhaar
If the names on your PAN and Aadhaar are very different, fix that first — otherwise the ₹1,000 is paid but linking fails. See name mismatch.
Step 1 — Pay the ₹1,000 fee
- Go to incometax.gov.in → Quick Links → Link Aadhaar. Enter PAN and Aadhaar and click Validate.
- The portal says payment is not found and offers “Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax”. Click it.
- Enter your PAN (twice) and any mobile number for the e-Pay Tax OTP. Verify the OTP.
- Choose the Income Tax tile. Select the assessment/tax year the portal shows and Type of Payment: Other Receipts (500).
- ₹1,000 is pre-filled against “Others”. Continue, choose net banking / debit card / UPI / card and pay on the bank’s page.
- Download the challan (with CIN). Keep it safe.
Step 2 and 3 — Wait, then submit the link request
- Wait until the payment is credited — usually within 4–5 working days (sometimes the next day).
- Go back to Link Aadhaar, enter PAN and Aadhaar, and click Validate. It should now say the payment details are verified.
- Enter your name as in Aadhaar and your mobile number, and tick the consent box.
- Enter the 6-digit OTP sent to your Aadhaar mobile and submit.
- You will see a message that the request has been sent to UIDAI for validation.
Step 4 — Check the status
After a few days, open Link Aadhaar Status from Quick Links again. Once it shows your PAN is linked, your PAN normally becomes operative within about 30 days. If the request is rejected, it is almost always a name, date of birth or gender mismatch — see name mismatch.
Mistakes that waste your ₹1,000
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Paid under a different head (e.g. 300/400) | Portal can’t find the fee | Pay again under Other Receipts (500); ask your Assessing Officer about correcting or adjusting the wrong challan |
| Paid through an agent’s link | Money lost to fraud | Pay only on incometax.gov.in’s e-Pay Tax |
| Name mismatch not fixed first | Linking rejected | Correct PAN or Aadhaar, then link — the fee stays valid |
| Tried to link the same day | “Payment not found” | Wait for credit |
Frequently asked questions
How to link Aadhaar with PAN step by step?
Check Link Aadhaar Status first. If not linked, pay ₹1,000 on e-Pay Tax (Income Tax → Other Receipts 500), wait for the payment to be credited, then use Link Aadhaar on incometax.gov.in with the Aadhaar OTP, and check the status again after a few days.
How do I link PAN with Aadhaar after the deadline?
Pay ₹1,000 through e-Pay Tax (Income Tax → Other Receipts 500) and, once credited, submit the Link Aadhaar request with Aadhaar OTP on incometax.gov.in.
Can I link PAN and Aadhaar for free now?
No. The free windows have closed. The ₹1,000 fee applies to everyone who is not in an exempt category.
How many days after payment can I link?
Usually 4–5 working days, sometimes sooner. The portal will let you proceed once the payment is credited.
Do I need to log in to the e-filing portal?
No. Both Link Aadhaar and Link Aadhaar Status work from Quick Links without logging in.
I paid ₹1,000 but linking failed due to a mismatch. Do I pay again?
No. Correct the mismatch and try again; the same payment remains valid for your PAN.
Never share your Aadhaar OTP with anyone who calls or messages offering to “link your PAN”. Ignore SMS links that say your PAN will be blocked today — do it yourself on incometax.gov.in only.
Official links
Use only these government websites. HumainOne is not connected to any of them.
- Income Tax e-Filing — Link AadhaarPay fee and link
- Link Aadhaar user manualOfficial step-by-step
- Link Aadhaar FAQFees, exemptions, errors
Disclaimer: HumainOne is an independent information website. We are not affiliated with UIDAI, the Income Tax Department, EPFO, NPCI, the Election Commission, the Government of Maharashtra or any government body. We do not accept applications, documents or fees. Information is checked against official sources on the date shown but rules change — always confirm on the official website before acting. Calculators give estimates, not official figures, and this is not tax or legal advice.