t is just one of those things that need to be done. The government says get a PAN.  We follow.

PAN, as you probably know, refers to the Permanent Account Number issued by the income tax department. It is a must for everyone who files a tax return.

If you are going through a tax consultant, you need not worry. He will supply you with Form 49A and give you a list of the documents he needs.

You fill the form, give it to him, pay him his fee and relax. He will submit it to the tax authorities.  

But if you believe in doing things on your own and are wondering how to get started, Get Ahead has the information for you!

1. Get the form

You could visit the official Web sites of the Income Tax department or UTI Investor Services Ltd or National Securities Depository Limited. 

Download the PAN application (Form 49A) from any of these sites.

2. Don't forget the photograph!

You will need a recent colour photograph (stamp size: 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm) to attach on the form.

3. Some additional information

5. Submit the form

Fill in the application form and submit it in at any of the IT PAN service centres or TIN facilitation centres along with a fee of Rs 65. The location of such centres is listed at the above mentioned Web sites.

Within a month, a flashy credit card style PAN card will be couriered by UTIISL to the mailing address mentioned in your application.

Do's and don'ts when completing the PAN application

1. No PIN, no PAN

The address you mention in your PAN application should carry the correct PIN code of the place. If you forget this, your application will be rejected.

2. No initials please

You need to mention your full name (that means your surname and the middle name). Using initials could get your application rejected.

3. Married? Please use your maiden name

Women are supposed to enter their father's name in the application form, regardless of their marital status.

4. Proper documents

All the documents asked for must be provided. Else, your application will be rejected.

~ On receipt of the PAN

The moment you get your card, verify it.

Check the name mentioned in the card immediately. Is the spelling right?

Also, look at the number (your PAN is alpha-numeric, which means it is composed of both alphabets and numbers). The fifth character of your PAN must be the first alphabet of your last name (for example, if your last name is Shah, the fifth character of your PAN must be S).

~ Not yet received the PAN? Lost it?

Approach that cell. You can start by contacting the public relations officer of the Income Tax Department and asking for the address of the PAN cell.

You can also request changes in the PAN data or request a duplicate PAN card through the Internet.

For more details, please visit the NSDL site.  

~ What if you shift cities?

Assume you made the PAN application in one place, say New Delhi, and then got transferred on business to another city, say Bangalore.

Since you applied for your card while you were in New Delhi, the official letter saying you have been alloted a PAN will be sent by the Income Tax Department to your New Delhi address.

But you will be filing your returns in Bangalore. So send a letter to the PAN Cell, Bangalore, and let them know you have already applied for the PAN at New Delhi but you will now be assessed at Bangalore.

Attach a photocopy of your application to your letter and request that you be alloted the number in Bangalore.

You must inform your assessing officer about any changes in the name, address or nature of the business on the basis of which the PAN was allotted.

A word of caution before signing off.

Be careful to use the PAN correctly. Do not misspell it and make sure you write your number correctly. The penalty that could be imposed on such defaults are pretty stiff and could cost you upto Rs 10,000.

For a detailed FAQ on PAN, visit the FAQ page on the Income Tax Web site.

Relax With Tax is a Mumbai-based personal tax & finance solutions provider.

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Illustration: Dominic Xavier