Check a PAN
Type or paste the 10-character PAN. The result appears automatically.
Validated locally — nothing leaves your device.
What this checks
The five-letter / four-digit / one-letter structure and a recognised holder-type code. The Income Tax Department does not publish the check-character algorithm, so a pass means the PAN is well-formed, not that it is issued. Use Verify Your PAN on the e-filing portal for official confirmation.
PAN number structure
A Permanent Account Number is a 10-character alphanumeric code issued by the Income Tax Department. Unlike an Aadhaar number, parts of it are meaningful:
| Characters | Content | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 3 | Letters | Alphabetic series running from AAA to ZZZ |
| 4 | Letter | Holder type (see table below) |
| 5 | Letter | First letter of the surname (individuals) or of the entity name |
| 6 – 9 | Digits | Sequential number 0001 – 9999 |
| 10 | Letter | Alphabetic check character (algorithm not published) |
Holder type codes (4th character)
| Code | Holder type |
|---|---|
| P | Individual (Person) |
| C | Company |
| H | Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) |
| F | Firm / LLP |
| A | Association of Persons (AOP) |
| T | Trust |
| B | Body of Individuals (BOI) |
| L | Local authority |
| J | Artificial juridical person |
| G | Government agency |
The regex for the structure is ^[A-Z]{5}[0-9]{4}[A-Z]$; a stricter version that also checks the holder code is ^[A-Z]{3}[ABCFGHJLPT][A-Z][0-9]{4}[A-Z]$.
How to verify a PAN officially
- Open the Income Tax e-filing portal and choose Verify Your PAN under quick links.
- Enter the PAN, full name, date of birth and mobile number, then the OTP.
- The portal reports whether the PAN is valid and active for those details.
Businesses that must verify PANs in volume (banks, brokers, employers) register for the bulk PAN verification facility through Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) or UTIITSL.
PAN and Aadhaar linking
PANs must be linked to Aadhaar; an unlinked PAN becomes inoperative, which affects TDS rates and tax filing. Linking status can be checked on the e-filing portal under Link Aadhaar Status. Our Aadhaar validator can help catch a mistyped Aadhaar number before you submit the linking request.
Frequently asked questions
What is the format of a PAN number?
A PAN is 10 characters: five letters, four digits, one letter (AAAAA0000A). The fourth letter is the holder type (P for individual, C for company, and so on) and the fifth is the first letter of the holder's surname or entity name.
Can a PAN checksum be verified like Aadhaar?
No. The tenth character is an alphabetic check character but the Income Tax Department does not publish the algorithm, so third-party tools can only validate the structure and decode the holder type. Official verification is available on the e-filing portal.
How do I verify a PAN officially?
Use Verify Your PAN on the Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in). It confirms whether the PAN is valid and active for the name and date of birth you provide. Registered businesses can use the bulk PAN verification service.
What does the 4th character of a PAN mean?
It identifies the type of holder: P individual, C company, H HUF, F firm, A AOP, T trust, B BOI, L local authority, J artificial juridical person, G government.
What does the 5th character of a PAN mean?
For individuals it is the first letter of the surname; for other entities it is the first letter of the name. If someone's PAN has a 5th letter that does not match their surname, that is worth a second look.