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Why your PAN card application may get rejected?

Permanent Account Number (PAN) card is a unique ten-digit alphanumeric document, issued by Income Tax Department to each assessee for individuals or companies. It is mandatory for all the existing assessees or taxpayers who have to file income tax return, either for themselves or on behalf of others, to apply for a PAN card. For those who intend to get involved into financial transactions, it is important to present PAN wherever necessary. PAN holds significant importance in India because it enables the Income Tax department to link all the financial transactions made by the person, such as tax payments, TDS or TCS credits, returns of income or wealth or gift or fringe benefits tax, specific transactions etc.

Reasons why PAN card application may get rejected

Though it is quite easy and convenient to apply for the PAN Card, yet there are times when the PAN card application is rejected. Whether you are applying online or offline, you should be aware of the common reasons behind rejection of the PAN card application.

One of the major reasons is insufficient or false information entered by the PAN applicant. It happens when the information filled in the form is not backed by the supporting documents/ proofs. In such cases, PAN card application, whether made by an individual or a company, carried out online or offline, faces the risk of getting rejected.

Let us take a detailed look at the common reasons for facing rejection of your PAN card application.

Mistake in form

  1. Form is not filled in the prescribed manner.
  2. Errors in the name filled in the form. For instance, in case there is a mismatch in the name/spelling or salutation in the form and the supporting document, it will be considered as a mismatch.
  3. Discrepancy in the personal details such as age, date of birth, gender, address, etc can also lead to application rejection.
  4. In case the applicant already has a PAN card issued on their name, the application will be rejected.
  5. The signature on the form does not match with the one in the attached documents.

Discrepancy in documents

Due to the discrepancy in documents, the authorities often reject the PAN card application. Further, know that if the documents presented as identity or address proof do not have a clear print or any of the details is missing, the authorities will not accept/ recognize it as a valid identification proof. In such cases, there are maximum chances of a PAN card application rejected.

How to avoid rejection of PAN card application

Here are a few points to remember at the time of filling a form:

  1. The PAN card application form should be filled in BLOCK LETTERS and in BLACK INK only (for physical applications).
  2. Make sure, all the mandatory fields are properly filled to avoid rejection of the PAN Card application.
  3. It is prohibited to use abbreviations in the first and the last name or surname.
  4. In case the name is long and is not able to adjust in the space provided for the last name, one can continue to write it in the space allocated for the First and Middle Name.
  5. In case of the PAN application form for a company, the name must be provided without any abbreviation. For instance, the company should write itself as ‘Private Limited’ only and not use short forms, such as ‘Pvt Ltd’, ‘Private Ltd’ or ‘Pvt Limited.
  6. The name of the applicant should not carry a title, such as Smt, Shri, Kumari, Major, Dr., M/s etc.
  7. There should be only one character or number or punctuation sign in each box. Make sure there is a blank box in between each word.
  8. The date cannot be in the future. The date should be written in DDMMYYYY format.
  9. The photographs submitted along with the form should be recent and in colour and size specifications mentioned. Always paste the pictures on the form. Make sure the image is clear as its quality will decide the output on the PAN card.
  10. Provide your signature or left thumb impression across the photo on the left side of the form. Make sure that the signature is on the photograph as well as the form.
  11. Strictly follow the list of documents that will serve as the proof of identity and address as mentioned on the official website.
  12. Make a signature or left thumb impression within the box that is provided for the purpose, and is on the right side of the form. Do not make a signature on the photograph on the right side of the form. In case, there is any ink mark on the photograph, it will affect the clear visibility of the face of the applicant and it will cause the rejection of the PAN card application.
  13. Make sure that the AO code mentioned is correct. Always double check it from the Income Tax Office or PAN Centre or the websites of PAN Service Providers.
  14. The name mentioned in the identity and address proof should match exactly with the name in the PAN card application form.
  15. For Individuals, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), Association of Persons (AOP) or a Body of Individuals (BOI) or Artificial Juridical Person (AJP), residential address is mandatory. Other applicants should leave this field blank.
  16. The address and Pin Code of the area should be correctly filled in the PAN Application form. These details are crucial as PAN Card physical copy will not be able to reach you when sent through postal service.
  17. It is mandatory for the application to be signed by
    (i) the applicant
    (ii) Or, Karta in case of HUF
    (iii) Or, Director of the Company
    (iv) Or, Authorized signatory in AOP, AJP, BOI, Local Authority
    (v) Or, Partner in case of Firm or LLP
    (vi) Or, Trustee
    (vii) Or, Representative Assessee in case the applicant is minor, deceased, idiot, lunatic, mentally retarded.

18. In case, the applicant makes a thumb impression on the form, it has to be attested by a Magistrate or a Gazetted Officer or a Notary Public and carry an official seal and stamp.

In all, by filling up the form carefully and attaching the required documents with matching credentials, you can ensure a successful pan application. You can also seek help from a reputed e-governance partner for the same. Be assured, the entire process is convenient and hassle free.

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