PAN Allotment: Section 262 & Rule 158
Forms 93 · 94 · 95 · 96 — Complete Guide
A structured, section-wise breakdown of the new PAN application framework under the Income Tax Act 2025 and Income Tax Rules 2026 — mandatory forms, time limits, documents, Aadhaar compliance & more.
The Income Tax Rules 2026, notified on 20 March 2026, bring in a completely revamped PAN allotment framework. Under Section 262 of the Income Tax Act 2025, certain persons are mandatorily required to obtain a Permanent Account Number (PAN). The procedure, forms, time limits, and documents are governed by Rule 158 of the Income-tax Rules 2026. Four brand-new forms — Form 93, 94, 95, and 96 — replace the earlier Form 49A/49AA, catering to Indian individuals, Indian entities, foreign individuals, and foreign entities respectively.
Indian Individual
Indian Entity
Foreign Individual
Foreign Entity
Identity + Address + DOB/Date of Incorporation
(Protean / UTIITSL)
(MCA/SEBI cases)
Document validation by PAN Service Provider
| # | Trigger (Section 262) | Covered in Rule 158(7)? | Meaning / Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Income exceeds exemption limit | ✅ Yes | Mandatory PAN required |
| 2 | Business turnover > ₹5 lakh | ✅ Yes | Mandatory PAN required |
| 3 | Return filing required | ✅ Yes | Mandatory PAN required |
| 4 | TDS / TCS income | ✅ Yes | Mandatory PAN required |
| 5 | Entity transaction ≥ ₹2.5 lakh | ✅ Yes | Mandatory PAN required |
| 6 | Director / Partner / Karta etc. | ✅ Yes | Mandatory PAN required |
| 7 | Intended transaction (future) | ✅ Yes | PAN must be obtained before transaction |
| # | Person / Trigger Category | Time Limit for PAN Application |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Income exceeds exemption limit | 31 May of the following year |
| 2 | Business turnover > ₹5 lakh | Before the end of the relevant year |
| 3 | Return of income filer | Before the end of the relevant year |
| 4 | TDS / TCS recipient | Before the end of the relevant year |
| 5 | Entity transaction ≥ ₹2.5 lakh | 31 May of the following year |
| 6 | Responsible person (Director/Partner/Karta etc.) | 31 May of the following year |
| 7 | Intended future transaction | 7 days before the transaction |
Download PAN Application Forms
Extracted directly from the Gazette of India Extraordinary notification dated 20 March 2026. Click any form below to download the official PDF.
+ Declaration that applicant does not already possess PAN (liability under ITA 2025 if false).
Signature or Left Hand Thumb Impression required.
| Section | Details Captured | Forms |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Information | Name, DOB / Date of Incorporation | All four forms |
| Contact Details | Mobile Number, Email ID — mandatory; Landline — optional | All four forms |
| Source of Income | Salary / Business / House Property / Capital Gains / Other / Nil | All four forms |
| Parent Details | Father’s Name, Mother’s Name (mandatory), Single Parent flag, Name on PAN card | Form 93, 95 |
| AO Code | Area Code, AO Type, Range Code, AO Number (Jurisdiction) | All four forms |
| Representative Assessee / AR | RA Name, PAN/Aadhaar, Indian Address, Contact Details | All four forms (mandatory for NRI/Non-Citizen) |
| Communication Address | Residence / Office / RA Address (select one) | Form 93, 95 |
| Registration Number | CIN, LLPIN, etc. (mandatory for Company & LLP) | Form 94, 96 |
| Status / Category | HUF / Company / Firm / AOP / BOI / LA / AJP / Govt / Trust / LLP | Form 94, 96 |
| Citizenship / TIN | Country of Citizenship, Citizenship Type (Foreigner/PIO/OCI), TIN abroad | Form 95, 96 |
| Declaration | Signature or Left Hand Thumb Impression, Name, Designation | All four forms |
| Annexure | Category | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Proof of Identity | Who you are |
| A-2 | Proof of Address | Where you exist |
| A-3 | Proof of DOB / Date of Incorporation | Legal existence (age / formation) |
| Type | Accepted Documents |
|---|---|
| Identity | Aadhaar, Passport, Driving Licence, Voter ID |
| Address | Utility bills, Bank statement |
| DOB | Birth certificate, Passport, Matriculation certificate |
| Entity | Primary Document |
|---|---|
| Company | Certificate of Incorporation (COI) / CIN |
| LLP | LLPIN |
| Firm | Partnership Deed |
| Trust | Trust Deed |
| HUF | Affidavit + Karta Identity Proof |
| Type | Accepted Documents |
|---|---|
| Identity | Passport / OCI Card / PIO Card / TIN |
| Address | Foreign Bank Statement / Residence Proof |
| DOB | Passport / Birth Certificate |
| Authentication | Apostille / Embassy / High Commission attestation |
| Special Case | Rule / Treatment |
|---|---|
| Minor Applicant | Parent’s documents accepted as identity/address proof |
| NRI | Foreign bank statement valid for address proof |
| Representative Assessee / Authorized Representative | Allowed — must provide own identity + address documents with Indian address |
| Multiple PAN | ⚠️ Strictly Prohibited — liable for legal consequences |
| PAN Correction / Change | Separate application required — not modifiable in original application |
| FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investor) | Passport accepted if PAN + Aadhaar not available (Form 96 RA) |
| OCI / PIO | Citizenship Type field in Form 95; relevant documents as applicable |
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fill applicable Form (93 / 94 / 95 / 96) | Some fields will be pre-filled to the extent possible |
| 2 | Pay prescribed fee | Depends on mode and dispatch location |
| 3 | Submit application — Online or Physical | Online: Protean / UTIITSL | Physical: PAN centre | CAF: MCA/SEBI cases |
| 4 | Document verification by PAN Service Provider | All Annexures A-1, A-2, A-3 validated |
| 5 | Data transmitted to Income-tax Department | Secure data transmission as per DGIT(Systems) protocols |
| 6 | PAN generated by IT Department | Track via acknowledgement number |
| 7 | PAN dispatched — Physical card or e-PAN | Fees apply per dispatch mode |
| Requirement | Sub-rule | Impact / Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar Quoting | 158(9) | Mandatory — must intimate Aadhaar after allotment |
| Aadhaar Linking | 158(14) | Mandatory — PAN-Aadhaar integration managed by DGIT(Systems) |
| Aadhaar Authentication by DGIT | 158(4) | DGIT(Systems) is authorised to authenticate via Aadhaar |
| Failure to link / delay fee | 158(10) | ⚠️ ₹1,000 fee for non-compliance / delay |
| Continued failure | 158(10) | 🚫 PAN becomes Inoperative |
| Area of Control | Sub-rule | Nature of Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Forms Specification | 158(11) | DGIT specifies forms, formats, and procedures |
| Format Standardization | 158(11) | Standardises all PAN data formats |
| Document Verification | 158(8) | Defines document validation requirements |
| Data Security | 158(13) | Ensures secure data transmission protocols |
| Correction Process | 158(12) | Defines PAN correction and update procedures |
| Aadhaar Integration | 158(14) | Manages PAN-Aadhaar authentication linkage |
| AO Definition | 158(6) | AO includes DGIT-authorised officer |
| Change | Old Regime | New Regime (Rules 2026) | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Forms | 2 forms (49A, 49AA) | 4 forms (93, 94, 95, 96) | Better categorisation — simplification |
| Mobile / Email | Optional in some cases | Mandatory for all | Enhanced tracking and communication |
| Mother’s Name | Optional | Mandatory | Stronger identity verification |
| Initial Mismatch (Aadhaar) | Common issue | Resolved via Aadhaar-aligned expanded name field | Aadhaar alignment from start |
| Residential Status | Not captured distinctly | Added as a separate field | Better classification of applicants |
| RA / AR Details | Partially required | Full RA/AR details + Indian address mandatory | Fraud prevention and accountability |
| Passport / TIN (Foreign) | Sometimes optional | Mandatory for relevant cases | International identity authenticity |
| Common Application Form | Not available | Rule 158(2) — CAF allowed (MCA/SEBI) | Single-window compliance |
| Issue / Question | Answer / Rule |
|---|---|
| Can I edit after submission? | ❌ Not allowed — application is locked post-submission |
| Rejected application — what next? | Fresh application must be filed from scratch |
| PAN vs TAN — are they the same? | ❌ Different — PAN is for person identity, TAN is for deductors/collectors |
| How to track status? | Via the acknowledgement number received at time of submission |
| Which parent’s name on PAN card? | Applicant’s choice — Father or Mother selectable (Q15 in Form 93/95) |
| Can a minor apply? | Yes — through parent/guardian with parent documents |
| What if PAN name differs from Aadhaar? | Full expanded name must be provided; use name as per Aadhaar for alignment |
| Aadhaar-based application available? | ✅ Yes — Rule 158(3) allows Aadhaar-based application route |
| Sub-rule | Provision / Content |
|---|---|
| 158(1) | Application for PAN in Form 93 / 94 / 95 / 96 as applicable |
| 158(2) | Common Application Form (CAF) allowed for MCA / SEBI cases |
| 158(3) | Aadhaar-based application route permitted |
| 158(4) | Aadhaar authentication authorised by DGIT (Systems) |
| 158(5) | Application to be submitted to Assessing Officer (assigned / jurisdictional) |
| 158(6) | AO definition includes DGIT-authorised officer |
| 158(7) | Time limits for PAN application (based on trigger category) |
| 158(8) | Documents required — Identity (A-1), Address (A-2), DOB/Incorporation (A-3) |
| 158(9) | Aadhaar intimation / quoting is mandatory post-allotment |
| 158(10) | ₹1,000 fee for delay/failure in Aadhaar linking; PAN becomes inoperative |
| 158(11) | DGIT (Systems) specifies forms, formats, and procedures |
| 158(12) | DGIT (Systems) defines PAN correction process |
| 158(13) | DGIT (Systems) ensures data security in transmission |
| 158(14) | DGIT (Systems) manages PAN-Aadhaar integration and authentication |
IT Act 2025 || Income Tax Act 1961 vs 2025
– Complete Series
Section-wise deep-dive comparing Income Tax Act 1961 and the new Income Tax Act 2025. Structured learning with practical insights on every major provision — including PAN, TDS, ITR, and more.
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