Lok Sabha Question No. 181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-18
Subject: PAN-Aadhaar Linking
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Bidyut Baran Mahato

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 181

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 18t NOVEMBER, 2019 27 KARTTKA, 1941 (SAKA)

## "PAN-AADHAR LINKING"

181: SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL, SHRI SAMBHAJIRAO MANE, SHRI Sudheer GUPTA, SHRI SANIAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK, SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of account holders having their Aadhaar   linked with Permanent Account Numler (PAN) cards;
- (b) whether the Government has made the linking of PAN with Aadhaar number mandatory and if the details thereof along with the objectives behind this move; SO,
- (C whether very senior citizens are also required to link their Aadhaar card with PAN card and if SO, the details thereof;
- (d) the manner in which it is likely to benefit the PAN card holders;
- (e) whether the Government has fixed any timeframe to complete the said procedure and if the details thereof; and SO,
- (f) the measures taken by the Government to ensure that such sensitive data is not leaked from organizations handling this data?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCIE

## (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a) The number of Permanent Account Numbers (PANs) which are linked wiith Aadhaar Number as Ori 11.11.2019 is 29,30,74,520.
- (b) Yes Sir. As per sub-section (1) of section 139AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Act), every in the application form for allotment of PAN and in the return of income:

Further, as per sub-section (2) of section 139AA of the Act, every person who was a PAN holder as on 1st July, 2017 who was otherwise eligible to obtain Aadhaar Nun ber has to intimate his/her Aadhaar to such authority in such form and manner as may be prescribed, on or before a date to be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette This process is commonly known as Linking of PAN with Aadhaar. Vide Notification   bearing GSR: No\_ 642(E) dated 27.06.2017 , the Principal Director  General of Income-tax (Systems) had been notified as the 'pres-ribed authority' to whom the Aadhaar Number has to be intimated by a person who was havirig PAN as on 1st   July, 2017 . Further, vide Notification bearing S.O.No.1495(E) dated 31.0.3.2019, the Central Government specified 30th September, 2019 as tne due date for linking the FAN with Aadhaar Number , which was subsequently extended till 31.12.2019 vide Notification bearing S.O. No. 3539(E) dated 28.09.2019.

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The objective behind this move is to ensure unique identity of the PAN card holders and to weed out undetected duplicate PANs: This is also essential to prevent misuse of PANs and potential tax frauds.

- (c) Vide Notification bearing S.O.No.1513(E) dated 11.05.2017, senior citizens of the age 80 years or more at any time during the previous year who do not possess the Aadhaar Nur ber or the Enrollment ID are exempt from the applicability of section 139AA of the Act;
- (d) It will ensure uniqueness of PAN and prevent applicantslentities from obtaining nultiple PANs:
- (e) As per the Notification bearing S.O.No.3539(E) dated 28.09.2019, the linking of PAN with Aadhaar Number has to be completed by 31st December, 2019.
- Appropriate measures have been taken in terms of provisions of the Income-tax Act  1961, Information Technology Act, 2000 and other applicable laws to ensure that the confidentiality of data is maintained Tne security assurance of Aadhaar ecosystem strengthened with enactnient of and subsequently the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 which has st ingent penalties/punishments for offenders: