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PAN Card Status: How to Track Your PAN Application Online

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A step-by-step guide to checking your PAN card application status on the official Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL portals, tracking by name or date of birth, and verifying your PAN-Aadhaar link status on the Income Tax e-Filing site.

How to check your PAN card status

PAN cards in India are issued through two authorised agencies on behalf of the Income Tax Department: Protean eGov Technologies (formerly NSDL e-Gov) and UTIITSL. You track your application on the same agency's portal where you applied. PaisaMath is an independent guide and does not issue, process, or track PAN cards on your behalf – always use the official portals linked below.

If you applied through Protean (NSDL), track it on the official status page at tin.tin.proteantech.in. If you applied through UTIITSL, track it at trackpan.utiitsl.com. To check whether your PAN is linked to Aadhaar, use the Income Tax e-Filing portal at incometax.gov.in.

Keep your reference number handy. On Protean this is a 15-digit acknowledgement number; on UTIITSL it is the coupon (application) number. Both were shown on screen and emailed/SMSed to you when you submitted the application. If your PAN has already been allotted, you can also download it – see our guide to downloading your PAN card (e-PAN).

Track PAN status on Protean (NSDL) by acknowledgement number

Use this method if you applied through Protean (the agency that runs the former TIN-NSDL service). Online tracking usually becomes available about 24 hours after you submit the application.

  1. Open the official status-track page at tin.tin.proteantech.in/pantan/StatusTrack.html.
  2. In the Application Type dropdown, select PAN – New/Change Request.
  3. Choose the Acknowledgement Number option and enter your 15-digit acknowledgement number.
  4. Type the verification code (captcha) shown on the screen.
  5. Click Submit to view your current application status.

The status will show stages such as application received, under process, dispatched, or completed. If a physical card has been dispatched, the page typically shows the courier or speed-post details where available.

Track PAN status on UTIITSL by coupon number

Use this method if you applied through UTIITSL. Your coupon number is generated the moment your application is successfully submitted on the UTIITSL portal.

  1. Go to the official UTIITSL tracking page at trackpan.utiitsl.com (also reachable from utiitsl.com → PAN Card Services → Track your PAN Card).
  2. Select your Application Type from the dropdown.
  3. Enter your Application Coupon Number (or, if you have it, your existing PAN number for a correction/reprint).
  4. Enter your Date of Birth exactly as it appears on the application form.
  5. Type the captcha and click Submit / Search to see your status.

If you have lost your coupon number and applied for a correction or reprint, UTIITSL also lets you track using your PAN number with your date of birth.

Track PAN status by name and date of birth

Misplaced your acknowledgement or coupon number? Both agencies allow a name-and-date-of-birth lookup. On Protean, the name-based search generally works only after about three days from submission.

  1. Open your agency's status-track page (Protean or UTIITSL).
  2. Select PAN – New/Change Request as the application type.
  3. Choose the Name option instead of acknowledgement/coupon number.
  4. Enter your Last Name, First Name and Middle Name exactly as filled in the application.
  5. Enter your Date of Birth and submit to view the status.

Enter the name fields precisely as on the form – even a small spelling difference can return no result. If the lookup fails, recheck the spelling or wait a day and try again with your acknowledgement/coupon number instead.

SMS and call-centre options

If you cannot get online, Protean (NSDL) offers SMS and phone-based status checks. These are useful when you have your 15-digit acknowledgement number but no internet access.

ChannelHow to use
SMS (Protean)Send NSDLPAN <15-digit acknowledgement number> to 57575 from your registered mobile.
Phone (TIN call centre)Call 020-27218080 and quote your acknowledgement number.

Standard SMS and call charges apply. UTIITSL applicants should use the UTIITSL online tracker; for queries, contact details are published on the official utiitsl.com site. Confirm the current numbers and SMS keyword on the official portal, as these can change.

Typical PAN processing timeline

Processing time depends on how you applied and whether you opted for a physical card. Aadhaar-based e-KYC applications are the fastest because no physical documents need to be verified.

StageTypical time
Instant e-PAN via Aadhaar OTP (Income Tax portal)A few minutes, when details match Aadhaar
e-PAN through Protean / UTIITSL (Aadhaar e-KYC)Around 2–3 working days after successful submission
Physical PAN card dispatchAfter e-PAN is issued, generally a few more working days
Physical card deliveryCommonly within about 5–15 working days, depending on your location

These are indicative timelines, not guarantees – delays happen when documents need manual verification or the address is in a remote area. Treat your status page as the authoritative source, and verify current processing times on the official portal. Once your e-PAN is issued you can download it immediately; see how to download your e-PAN.

Check your PAN-Aadhaar link status

Linking your PAN with Aadhaar is mandatory for most PAN holders, and an unlinked PAN can become inoperative – which blocks income-tax filing, refunds, and many banking and investment transactions, and can trigger higher TDS. You can check the link status on the Income Tax e-Filing portal without logging in.

  1. Open the official e-Filing portal at incometax.gov.in.
  2. Under Quick Links on the homepage, click Link Aadhaar Status.
  3. Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number.
  4. Click View Link Aadhaar Status to see whether the two are linked, not linked, or pending validation with UIDAI.

If your PAN is not yet linked, a late-linking fee of ₹1,000 under Section 234H generally applies, payable via e-Pay Tax before you submit the linking request. Deadlines and fees for PAN-Aadhaar linking have changed several times, and some deadlines have already passed – check your current PAN-Aadhaar status (operative or inoperative) and whether any deadline has already passed for you on the official portal before acting, as the rules may have been updated since this page was written. For Aadhaar itself, see our guides on downloading your Aadhaar and updating Aadhaar details.

Always verify on the official portal

PAN is sensitive financial information, so only enter your details on the official government and agency websites. Do not share your acknowledgement number, PAN, Aadhaar, or OTP with third-party sites or callers who promise to "speed up" your PAN.

The steps, fees, timelines, and deadlines described here are accurate to the best of our knowledge but are subject to change by the Income Tax Department, Protean, and UTIITSL. The official portals are the authoritative source – always confirm the current process there. For related help, see our guides on downloading your PAN card and updating Aadhaar.

Frequently asked questions

Visit the portal of the agency you applied through – Protean (NSDL) at tin.tin.proteantech.in or UTIITSL at trackpan.utiitsl.com. Select the application type, enter your acknowledgement or coupon number (or your name and date of birth), complete the captcha, and submit. The current status will be displayed on the screen.

It is a 15-digit unique number that Protean (NSDL) generates when you submit your PAN application. It appears on the acknowledgement receipt shown on screen and in the confirmation email or SMS. You need it to track your application online, by SMS, or by phone.

Go to trackpan.utiitsl.com (or utiitsl.com > PAN Card Services > Track your PAN Card), select the application type, enter your coupon number and date of birth, type the captcha, and click Submit. If you applied for a correction or reprint, you can also track using your PAN number and date of birth.

Yes. Both Protean and UTIITSL let you track by name and date of birth. Choose the Name option on the status page and enter your last, first, and middle name exactly as on the application, along with your date of birth. On Protean this usually works only after about three days from submission.

For Protean (NSDL) applications, send an SMS reading NSDLPAN followed by your 15-digit acknowledgement number to 57575 from your registered mobile. You will receive the current status in reply. Standard SMS charges apply, and you should confirm the current keyword and number on the official portal.

With Aadhaar-based e-KYC, an e-PAN is generally issued in around 2 to 3 working days, and an instant e-PAN via Aadhaar OTP can take only a few minutes. A physical card is dispatched after the e-PAN and usually delivered within about 5 to 15 working days depending on your location. Times are indicative and can vary.

Open incometax.gov.in, click Link Aadhaar Status under Quick Links, enter your PAN and Aadhaar number, and click View Link Aadhaar Status. The portal will show whether your PAN and Aadhaar are linked, not linked, or pending validation with UIDAI.

A late-linking fee of ₹1,000 under Section 234H generally applies, paid via e-Pay Tax before submitting the linking request. Deadlines and fees have been revised several times, so verify the current fee, deadline, and your eligibility on the official Income Tax portal before acting.

An inoperative PAN can block income-tax return filing, stall refunds, and disrupt banking and investment transactions, and may lead to higher TDS or TCS being deducted. Linking your PAN with Aadhaar generally reactivates it after the linking is processed. Check the latest rules on incometax.gov.in.

If the status shows dispatched, check the courier or speed-post tracking details on the status page where available. Allow the normal delivery window for your area, and confirm the address you entered was correct. If it still does not arrive, contact the issuing agency (Protean or UTIITSL) using the support details on their official site.