{"id":418,"date":"2026-01-20T06:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T01:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/?p=418"},"modified":"2026-01-22T10:01:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T04:31:03","slug":"what-is-pan-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/","title":{"rendered":"What is PAN NO? -Know PAN card History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Do you want to know what the PAN No is? In this article, you will get all the information about pan such as PAN card history, when pan card started in India, PAN card structure, and PAN Gir No (General Index Registration)Number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_53 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-69e7d6b48d1ab\" ><span class=\"\"><span style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input aria-label=\"Toggle\" aria-label=\"item-69e7d6b48d1ab\"  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69e7d6b48d1ab\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#All_About_PAN_number\" title=\"All About PAN number\">All About PAN number<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#Pan_Card_History\" title=\"Pan Card History\">Pan Card History<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#When_did_Pan_Card_start_in_India\" title=\"When did&nbsp; Pan Card start in India?\">When did&nbsp; Pan Card start in India?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#Why_the_PAN_card_structure_failed\" title=\"Why the PAN card structure failed\">Why the PAN card structure failed<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#Pan_Card_Format_Under_New_Series\" title=\"Pan Card Format Under New Series\">Pan Card Format Under New Series<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#Objectives_of_introducing_a_new_series_of_PAN\" title=\"Objectives of introducing a new series of PAN\">Objectives of introducing a new series of PAN<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#Format_of_the_new_series_of_PAN\" title=\"Format of the new series of PAN\">Format of the new series of PAN<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#PAN_Card_Format\" title=\"PAN Card Format:\">PAN Card Format:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2026\/01\/20\/what-is-pan-no\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"All_About_PAN_number\"><\/span>All About PAN number<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a code that serves as an identification for Indian nationals, particularly those who are liable to pay Income Tax. A PAN is a unique, 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued to all judicial entities identifiable under the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example number would be in the form of ARLPA0061H. It is issued by the Indian Income Tax Department under the supervision of the Central Board for Direct Taxes (CBDT), and it also serves as an important proof of identification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PAN is basically a method of identifying a taxpayer on the computer system through a unique All-India number so that all information relating to that taxpayer, e.g., taxes paid, refunds issued, outstanding arrears, income disclosed, transactions entered etc., can be linked to him through the computer system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was all about <strong>what the PAN number is, PAN no, or information about PAN.<\/strong> I&#8217;ll now go over the PAN card history and when pan card started in India. Let&#8217;s see what the old system of identifying taxpayers, the <b>PAN number<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pan_Card_History\"><\/span><strong>Pan Card History<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier, the assesses of the Income-tax Department were identified by their General Index Register (GIR) Number. This pan gir no was essentially a manual system. The GIR number was unique only within an Assessing Officer&#8217;s Ward \/ Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the PAN GIR was not unique across the country, PAN was created to address these issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_did_Pan_Card_start_in_India\"><\/span>When did&nbsp; Pan Card start in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Permanent Account Number (old series) was first introduced in 1972 and made statutory under section 139 A of the Income Tax Act w.e.f. 1st April 1976.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blocks of Permanent Account Numbers were allotted to each Commissioner Charge by the Board. The Commissioners made the allotment of Permanent Account Numbers to be assessed under various Assessing Officers in their charge from within the Block allotted to them. Initially, the allotment was made manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_PAN_card_structure_failed\"><\/span>Why the PAN card structure failed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The PAN under the old series failed to meet the desired objectives for the following reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>No database was maintained, and there was no check to avoid allotment of multiple PANs to a taxpayer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The data captured under the computerised system was not structured and was limited to very few parameters \u2013 Name, Address, Status, and designation of A.O.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PAN was not permanent as the jurisdiction of the assessee was part of the PAN and, therefore, was prone to changes with the change in jurisdiction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The allotment of PAN was not centralised \u2013 an assessee could apply for allotment of PAN in different centres and get a distinct PAN from each centre, due to which the all-India uniqueness could not be achieved.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pan_Card_Format_Under_New_Series\"><\/span><strong>Pan Card Format Under New Series<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since a taxpayer can make a payment of taxes or have monetary transactions anywhere in India. A unique all-India taxpayer-identification number is essential for linking and processing transactions\/documents relating to a taxpayer on computers, as also for data matching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, a new series of Permanent Account Numbers was devised, which took care of the above limitations. When compared to today, the definition of <strong>what is pan no<\/strong> is different. Section 139A of the Act was amended w.e.f. 1.7.95 to enable allotment of PAN under the new series to persons residing in areas notified by the Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Applications for PAN allotment under the new series became mandatory in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai on 1.6.96, and in the rest of the country on 11.2.98. This is the evolution of the PAN card over time. This was all about the history of PAN cards or the PAN card history| information about PAN<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Objectives_of_introducing_a_new_series_of_PAN\"><\/span><strong>Objectives of introducing a new series of PAN<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You know what PAN no? In the PAN card history, the PAN card structure was introduced keeping in view the following objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Facilitate linking of various documents and information, including payment of taxes, assessment, tax demand, arrears, etc., relating to an assessee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make it easier to find information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitate the matching of information relating to investment, raising of loans, and other business activities of taxpayers collected through various sources, both internal and external, for widening the tax base and detecting and combating tax evasion through non-intrusive means.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Also-Read-128-x-128-px.png\" alt=\"also read\" class=\"wp-image-2599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Also-Read-128-x-128-px.png 128w, https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Also-Read-128-x-128-px-88x88.png 88w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2021\/09\/12\/how-to-apply-for-business-pan-card\/\">How to apply for a business PAN card<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2020\/09\/26\/apply-for-pan-card\/\">Apply for a PAN card<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/2017\/09\/29\/pan-card-application-status-online\/\">PAN Card application status online<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Format_of_the_new_series_of_PAN\"><\/span><strong>Format of the new series of PAN<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When pan card started in India, they were not well received because some flaws existed, such as the fact that pan gir no was not unique to everyone. As a result, a new pan series was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Permanent Account Number under the new series is based on the following constant permanent parameters of a taxpayer and uses the Phonetic Soundex code algorithm to ensure uniqueness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Full name of the taxpayer;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Date of birth \/ Date of Incorporation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Status;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gender in the case of individuals, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Father\u2019s name in case of individuals (including in the cases of married ladies)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>These five fields are called core fields, without which PAN cannot be allotted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The PAN under the new series is allotted centrally by a customized application system (IPAN \/ AIS) for all-India uniqueness. The system automatically generates a 10-character PAN using the information in the above five core fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PAN_Card_Format\"><\/span>PAN Card Format:<a href=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/pan-structure.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2850 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/pan-structure.webp\" alt=\"pan card format\" width=\"428\" height=\"337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/pan-structure.webp 428w, https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/pan-structure-300x236.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px\" \/><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The phonetic PAN (PPAN) is a new concept that helps prevent the allotment of more than one PAN to an assessee with the same\/similar names. AIS works out the PPAN based on some important key fields of an assessee using an internal algorithm. At the time of PAN allotment, the PPAN of the assessee is compared with the PPANs of all the assessees to whom PAN has been allotted all over the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a matching PPAN is detected, a warning is given to the user, and a duplicate PPAN report is generated. In such cases, a new PAN can only be allotted if the Assessing Officer chooses to override the duplicate PPAN detection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A unique PAN can be allotted under this system to 17 crore taxpayers under each alphabet and under each status (i.e., individual, HUF, Firm, Company, Trusts, Body of Individuals, Association of Persons, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n        <section class=\"sc_fs_faq sc_card \">\n            <div>\n\t\t\t\t<h4> Can we check PAN No online?<\/h4>                <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYes , you can chek Pan No online through website https:\/\/www.incometax.gov.in\/iec\/foportal\/                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t        <section class=\"sc_fs_faq sc_card \">\n            <div>\n\t\t\t\t<h4>Can minor get Pan card in India?<\/h4>                <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMinor can get Pan card in India.It requires consent leter from parents.                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t        <section class=\"sc_fs_faq sc_card \">\n            <div>\n\t\t\t\t<h4>What is the validity period of a PAN NO?<\/h4>                <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPAN No is issued for life time. Thus there is no as such expiry date for Pan card.                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n    {\n\t\t\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\t\t\"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n\t\t\"mainEntity\": [\n\t\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Question\",\n\t\t\t\t\"name\": \" Can we check PAN No online?\",\n\t\t\t\t\"acceptedAnswer\": {\n\t\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Answer\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\"text\": \"Yes , you can chek Pan No online through website https:\/\/www.incometax.gov.in\/iec\/foportal\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t,\t\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Question\",\n\t\t\t\t\"name\": \"Can minor get Pan card in India?\",\n\t\t\t\t\"acceptedAnswer\": {\n\t\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Answer\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\"text\": \"Minor can get Pan card in India.It requires consent leter from parents.\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t,\t\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Question\",\n\t\t\t\t\"name\": \"What is the validity period of a PAN NO?\",\n\t\t\t\t\"acceptedAnswer\": {\n\t\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Answer\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\"text\": \"PAN No is issued for life time. Thus there is no as such expiry date for Pan card.\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t    ]\n}\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For more information on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pan.utiitsl.com\/\"> PAN cards<\/a>, log on to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itzeazy.com\/\">www.itzeazy.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you want to know what the PAN No is? In this article, you will get all the information about pan such as PAN card history, when pan card started in India, PAN card structure, and PAN Gir No (General Index Registration)Number. All About PAN number The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a code that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[173,172,171,68,170,174,6193],"yst_prominent_words":[4873,1181,4875,1739,4874,1661,3903,3904,4876],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=418"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32764,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418\/revisions\/32764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=418"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itzeazy.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}