Find my own PAN number
Lost your PAN (the 10-character tax number)? It cannot be found from a name. Free ways to get it back: your papers, e-filing with Aadhaar OTP, or helpline.
Free on the official page. Your own numbers only. We have no automated link to any government portal, use no private data services, and never store the result.
What you need
- Your own Aadhaar number and the mobile linked to it: the OTP (a one-time code sent by SMS) comes there.
- Your full name and date of birth exactly as on Aadhaar, for the helpline and the 'Verify PAN Status' step.
- Any old paper that may carry the PAN: Form 16, a tax return, bank account opening form, demat or insurance papers.
- Banks and brokers often call identity-proof paperwork KYC (Know Your Customer, the checks they do before opening your account); your PAN is usually printed on these.
What to do on the official page
- First look at your papers. The PAN is printed on Form 16 from an employer, on any income tax return, on bank KYC forms, demat statements and insurance policies. Many banks also show it under 'Profile' in net banking.
- If your PAN was made online with Aadhaar (Instant e-PAN): open incometax.gov.in, click 'Instant e-PAN' under 'Quick Links', then 'Continue' in the 'Check Status / Download e-PAN' box.
- Type your 12-digit Aadhaar number and click 'Continue'. Type the 6-digit OTP sent to your Aadhaar mobile and click 'Validate Aadhaar OTP and Continue'. Never share this OTP with anyone.
- If a PAN was allotted this way, click 'View e-PAN' or 'Download e-PAN'. Your PAN is printed on it. The PDF opens with your date of birth as DDMMYYYY.
- If you ever registered on the e-filing website and your PAN is linked to Aadhaar: click 'Login' and type your Aadhaar number as the User ID. Type your e-filing password. Then open 'My Profile'. It shows your PAN.
- Still nothing? Call a government helpline with your name and date of birth ready: e-filing helpdesk 1800 103 0025 or 1800 419 0025 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm); PAN services by Protean (earlier NSDL) 020 2721 8080 (every day, 7 am to 11 pm). They verify who you are and tell you how to get the number or a reprint.
- Once you have the number, confirm it is yours and active. On incometax.gov.in click 'Verify PAN Status' under 'Quick Links'. Type the PAN, full name, date of birth and a mobile you can use, and click 'Continue'. Type the 6-digit OTP and click 'Validate'. It shows if the PAN is active and the details match.
What the result means
The portal shows: Instant e-PAN: 'View e-PAN' / 'Download e-PAN' is offered and the PDF shows a PAN.
It means: That is your PAN. It was allotted through Aadhaar and is already linked.
What to do next: Save the PDF and note the number in a safe place. The e-PAN is valid everywhere a PAN card is.
The portal shows: Instant e-PAN: a message that no request exists for this Aadhaar, or that you are not eligible.
It means: Your PAN was not made through Instant e-PAN (it was made on a paper form or through Protean/UTIITSL), or you never had a PAN.
What to do next: Try the login-with-Aadhaar step and the helplines. If you have truly never had a PAN, apply for one: Instant e-PAN is free with Aadhaar, or use the PAN application form; FormSathi can fill it with you. New PAN card →
The portal shows: Helpline: they confirm a PAN exists in your name and date of birth.
It means: You have a PAN. Do not apply for a second one; having two PANs is an offence with a ₹10,000 penalty.
What to do next: Once you have the number, ask for a 'Reprint of PAN card' from the agency that handled your last PAN form (Protean or UTIITSL). It has a small fee, shown on their page before you pay. The reprint needs the PAN itself.
The portal shows: Verify PAN Status: the PAN is active and the details match.
It means: The number you found is yours and in use.
What to do next: Next, check that it is linked to Aadhaar (see our PAN-Aadhaar link check).
The portal shows: Verify PAN Status: 'PAN is inoperative' or the details do not match.
It means: Inoperative means not linked to Aadhaar. A mismatch means the name or date of birth you typed differs from the PAN record.
What to do next: Link PAN with Aadhaar (late fee ₹1,000), or correct the PAN record through Protean/UTIITSL.
With a helper on a call · ₹49
A PAN cannot be found from a name, so our helper cannot 'look it up' for you. On a call the helper guides you click by click on your own phone through the Instant e-PAN status and Verify PAN Status steps, because the OTP comes to you and you type it yourself; we never ask for the OTP. If those fail, the helper stays on the line while you call the government helpline and tells you what to ask. We do not keep your PAN.
For this check the OTP comes to your phone. You type it yourself; we never ask for it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my PAN from my name and date of birth?
No. The income tax department closed the old 'Know Your PAN by name' service. Websites that still promise it either fail or collect your details. Use the routes on this page.
Is any of this paid?
The e-filing website, Instant e-PAN and the helplines are free. Only a reprint of the card has a small fee, shown on the Protean or UTIITSL page before you pay. FormSathi's ₹49 is only for a helper on a call.
Can FormSathi find my PAN for me?
No one can look up a PAN without the OTP on your own Aadhaar mobile, and we never take OTPs. We can only guide you through the official steps on a call.
I have a PAN card but it is lost. Do I need a new PAN?
No. The number stays the same for life. Find the number, then order a reprint or an e-PAN through Protean or UTIITSL. Never apply for a second PAN.
What does a PAN look like?
Ten characters: 5 letters, 4 digits, 1 letter, like ABCDE1234F. For a person the 4th letter is P; the 5th letter is the first letter of the surname.
Related services
Other free checks
All checks
PAN card
Income tax
- Find the TAN of whoever cut tax from your pay
- Find your own income tax Assessing Officer
- Check if an income tax notice is genuine
- See if your income tax payment reached the government
- Where is my income tax refund?
- Is my bank account ready for an income tax refund?
- See the tax cut on your PAN (Form 26AS and AIS)
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- Aadhaar bank seeding status
- Is my Ayushman card ready?
- Ladki Bahin application status
- MahaDBT scholarship application status
- Where is my PM-Kisan money?
Aadhaar
- Download my e-Aadhaar
- Aadhaar PVC card order status
- Find my lost Aadhaar number or enrolment ID
- Aadhaar update status
Aadhaar safety
- Aadhaar authentication history (where your Aadhaar was used)
- Lock or unlock your Aadhaar biometrics (fingerprint, iris, face)
- Which mobile is linked to my Aadhaar
- Is my Aadhaar number valid
ID cards and documents
- Driving licence application status
- Passport application status
- Track my voter form (Form 6 / Form 8) application
- Download my digital voter ID card (e-EPIC)
- Find my name in the voter list
Work and jobs
- e-Shram card: check and download
- Where is my PF claim? Check your EPF withdrawal status
- Is my PF account (UAN) active, and how much is in it?
- PM Vishwakarma application status
Business
Sources (date read)
- Instant e-PAN: check status / download (income tax e-filing) · 2026-10-26
- Instant e-PAN FAQ (free; not for people who already have a PAN) · 2026-10-14
- Verify PAN Status user manual (income tax e-filing) · 2026-10-26
- Can a person hold more than one PAN? (₹10,000 penalty, section 272B; Income Tax Department FAQ) · 2026-10-26
- Fee for late PAN-Aadhaar linking (₹1,000, section 234H; Income Tax Department FAQ) · 2026-10-26
- Income tax helpdesk numbers (e-filing, Protean PAN services) · 2026-11-01
- Forgot user ID FAQ: Aadhaar works as user ID only if linked with PAN (income tax e-filing) · 2026-10-29
- My Profile user manual: shows PAN details and Aadhaar number (income tax e-filing) · 2026-10-29
Updated: 2026-11-01