PAN Card Validator

PAN Card Validator

Validate PAN card number format. Decode entity type - Individual, Company, HUF, Trust.

100% private - everything runs in your browser, no data is sent anywhere

About PAN Numbers

  • PAN Format: 10-character alphanumeric - AAAPL1234C
  • 4th Character: P=Individual, C=Company, H=HUF, F=Firm, T=Trust, G=Government, A=AOP, B=BOI, L=Local Authority, J=AJP
  • Privacy: All validation is client-side. No data is sent to any server.
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Verify PAN Card Format - What This Tool Does

PAN (Permanent Account Number) is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department of India under Section 139A of the Income Tax Act 1961. It is mandatory for filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts, investments above Rs 50,000, property transactions, and most high-value payments under Rule 114B. Every Indian taxpayer, company, and foreign national earning in India must have one.

A valid PAN follows a strict format: 3 letters (sequence code) + 1 letter (entity type) + 1 letter (surname initial) + 4 digits (running number) + 1 letter (check character) - exactly 10 characters, always uppercase. This tool runs that format check entirely in your browser using regex - it catches typos and obviously invalid inputs instantly without sending your PAN anywhere.

What this tool does NOT do: it does not verify the PAN against the Income Tax Department's database. A format-valid PAN may not actually exist in the records. For database verification (whether the PAN is real and active), use the official Verify Your PAN service on the e-filing portal - it requires PAN + name + DOB + mobile + OTP.

Format Check vs Database Verification

CapabilityThis tool (browser)Official IT portal
Format check (10 chars, structure)YesYes
Decode entity type (4th character)YesIndirectly
Bulk check (paste many PANs)YesNo (one at a time)
Confirm PAN exists in IT databaseNo (cannot)Yes
Confirm PAN is active vs inoperativeNoYes
Requires personal details (name, DOB, OTP)NoYes

Format check is necessary but not sufficient. Use this tool to catch typos before paying or invoicing; use the official portal when you need to confirm a PAN actually exists.

Entity Codes - All 10 Categories (4th Character)

The 4th character of every valid PAN identifies the type of taxpayer the PAN was issued to. The Income Tax Department uses exactly 10 codes - any other letter at position 4 means the PAN format is invalid.

CodeEntityNotes
PIndividual / PersonMost common - the vast majority of PANs
CCompanyIncludes private and public limited companies
HHindu Undivided Family (HUF)Family unit treated as a separate taxable entity
FFirm / PartnershipPartnership firms, LLPs (registered under LLP Act)
AAssociation of Persons (AOP)Two or more persons coming together for income
TTrust (AOP-Trust)Charitable, religious or private trusts
BBody of Individuals (BOI)Group of individuals earning income jointly
LLocal AuthorityMunicipal corporations, panchayats, etc.
JArtificial Juridical PersonEntities recognised as legal persons that do not fit other categories
GGovernmentCentral and state government departments

PAN Signature Not Verified - What It Actually Means

If you see "PAN signature not verified" (or similar e-verification failure messages) when filing your Income Tax Return, it does not mean your PAN is fake. It means the e-verification step failed because of a mismatch somewhere in the verification chain. The most common causes:

  • Name mismatch across PAN database, Aadhaar database and the ITR you filed (even minor spelling differences trigger this)
  • Date of birth mismatch between PAN and Aadhaar records
  • Aadhaar not linked to PAN - required for Aadhaar OTP-based e-verification (see our Aadhaar-PAN link tool)
  • Aadhaar not linked to your registered mobile number - required for OTP delivery
  • Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) PAN does not match the PAN on your e-filing profile

Fix the underlying mismatch on UIDAI / IT portal first, then retry e-verification using a different method. The five accepted methods are: Aadhaar OTP, Net Banking, Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), EVC via pre-validated bank account and EVC via demat account. You have 30 days from the date of filing to e-verify your ITR; missing this window means the return is treated as not filed.

Sources

PAN rules and verification procedures can change with each Finance Act and CBDT notification. Verify on the official Income Tax e-filing portal before relying on any specific procedure for a real transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if my PAN card is valid?+
A PAN is structurally valid if it follows the format - 5 letters, 4 digits, 1 letter - with the fourth character being a valid entity code and the fifth matching the holder's surname initial. Our tool checks this format instantly. For Income Tax database verification (whether the PAN is real and active), use the official 'Verify Your PAN' service on the e-filing portal.
How do I verify a PAN card with the Income Tax department?+
The Income Tax Department offers an official 'Verify Your PAN' service at incometax.gov.in. You enter your PAN, full name (as per PAN), date of birth and registered mobile number, then validate with a 6-digit OTP. The service returns your PAN status (active or inoperative). Bulk verification is restricted to authorised entities (banks, mutual funds, RTAs, PSUs) under Section 139A and is not publicly available.
What does 'PAN signature not verified' mean during ITR filing?+
It means your Income Tax Return e-verification failed. The most common causes: name, date of birth, or PAN does not exactly match across PAN database, Aadhaar database and the ITR you filed; your Aadhaar is not linked to PAN; your Aadhaar is not linked to the registered mobile number; or your Digital Signature Certificate's PAN does not match your e-filing profile PAN. Fix the underlying mismatch and re-attempt verification using a different method (Aadhaar OTP, EVC via bank, net banking or DSC). You have 30 days from filing to e-verify.
What is the fourth character in PAN and what does it mean?+
The fourth character identifies the type of taxpayer per Section 139A: P (Individual / Person), C (Company), H (Hindu Undivided Family), F (Firm), A (Association of Persons), T (Trust), B (Body of Individuals), L (Local Authority), J (Artificial Juridical Person), G (Government). All 10 codes are valid - any other letter at the 4th position means the PAN format is invalid.
Can a PAN have less or more than 10 characters?+
No. A valid PAN is always exactly 10 characters - 5 letters, then 4 digits, then 1 letter. If you have something shorter or longer, it is not a PAN. The format is fixed by the Income Tax Department under Section 139A and Rule 114 of the Income Tax Rules 1961.
What's the difference between PAN format check and PAN database verification?+
Format check (what this tool does) verifies that a PAN string follows the 10-character structure and uses a valid entity code at position 4. It catches typos and obviously invalid inputs without sending data anywhere. Database verification (what the official IT portal does) confirms whether a specific PAN actually exists in the Income Tax Department's records and whether it is currently active or inoperative. Format-valid PANs may not exist in the database; format check is necessary but not sufficient.
Is PAN validation useful outside India?+
PAN is specific to India's Income Tax system. This validator is only relevant for Indian taxpayers, NRIs with Indian income, or foreign nationals and entities operating in India who have been issued a PAN by the Income Tax Department.
Is my PAN number stored when I validate it?+
No. The validation happens entirely in your browser using regex pattern matching - the PAN never leaves your device, is not sent to any server, and is not stored anywhere. Bulk validation also runs locally on the same principle.