PAN Format Explained
Every PAN follows a strict 10-character format. Let's break down what each part means using an example:
Characters 1-5: Name Prefix
Five uppercase alphabetic characters (A-Z) derived from your name. These letters are typically the first two letters of your surname and first three letters of your given name, but the exact derivation may vary.
Characters 6-9: Date Code
Four numeric digits (0-9) representing date information. For individuals, this typically represents birth year (2 digits), month, and day. For entities like companies, it represents registration or incorporation date.
Character 10: Check Digit
A single uppercase alphabetic character (A-Z) used for validation and error detection. This is the last digit of your PAN and helps verify the authenticity of the PAN number.
Character 4: Entity Type (CRITICAL)
A single uppercase alphabetic character (A-Z) that identifies the entity type. This position in the PAN is extremely important as it determines who the PAN holder is (Individual, Company, Trust, etc.). This is position 4 in the overall PAN.
What This Tool Can & Cannot Do
It's important to understand what this tool can and cannot do:
- ✓Check PAN format correctness - Verify it follows the official 10-character pattern
- ✓Identify entity type - Tell you if it's for Individual, Company, Firm, Trust, etc.
- ✓Detect invalid characters - Find typos, wrong letters, or wrong positions
- ✓Verify official structure - Ensure it matches CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) guidelines
- ✓Instant pre-checking - Before you submit to banks, government, or any official body
- ✗Verify PAN ownership - We can't tell if YOU are the real owner of a PAN
- ✗Check government database - We don't connect to IT Department or RTO databases
- ✗Validate name or DOB - We can't verify if the name or birth date in the PAN is correct
- ✗Detect cleverly faked PANs - A well-formatted fake PAN will appear valid here
- ✗Perform official verification - This tool is for pre-checking only, not official verification
💡 Bottom Line:
This tool helps catch formatting mistakes before you submit your PAN to banks, government forms, or employers. It is not an official government verification tool. For official verification, contact the Income Tax Department directly.
Common mistakes people make when writing or typing PAN numbers:
❌ Error 1: Using Lowercase Letters
Wrong: abcde1234p
Correct: ABCDE1234P
PAN must always be in UPPERCASE. The tool automatically converts lowercase to uppercase.
❌ Error 2: Wrong Length
Wrong: ABCDE123P (9 characters)
Wrong: ABCDE12345P (11 characters)
Correct: ABCDE1234P (10 characters)
PAN must be exactly 10 characters. Not 9, not 11. Exactly 10.
❌ Error 3: Invalid Entity Type Code (4th Character)
Wrong: ABCDE1234Z (Z is not valid)
Correct: ABCDE1234P (P is valid)
The 4th character must be one of: P, C, H, F, A, T, B, L, J. Any other letter makes it invalid.
❌ Error 4: Special Characters or Spaces
Wrong: ABCD-E1234P (contains hyphen)
Wrong: ABCDE 1234P (contains space)
Correct: ABCDE1234P (no spaces, no symbols)
PAN should only contain letters and numbers. No special characters, hyphens, or spaces allowed.
❌ Error 5: Numbers in Alphabet-Only Positions
Wrong: ABC1E12345 (4th character should be letter, not number)
Correct: ABCDE1234P (letters in positions 1-5 and 10, numbers in 6-9)
Position 1-5 must be LETTERS. Position 6-9 must be NUMBERS. Position 10 must be LETTER.
💡 Pro Tip:
Copy-paste is your friend. If you have your PAN card, copy the number from a digital copy rather than typing it manually.
This tool helps many people in different situations:
👤 Individuals Filing ITR
Pre-check your PAN before submitting income tax returns to catch formatting errors early.
🏦 Banks & NBFCs
Validate customer PANs during account opening to reduce rejections.
💻 Fintech Apps
Catch PAN typos during KYC onboarding before official submission.
👔 Employers
Validate employee PANs during salary onboarding and tax filing.
📊 Accountants & CAs
Quickly verify PAN formats while preparing tax documents and returns.
🔐 KYC Teams
Pre-validate PANs before official verification to improve workflow efficiency.
This tool is based on official government specifications:
✓ Legal Basis:
- • Law: Income Tax Act, 1961 - Section 139A
- • Authority: Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
- • Issuer: Income Tax Department of India
- • Format Specifications: Official CBDT guidelines
⚠️ Important:
This tool checks format compliance only. It is NOT official government verification. We don't access government databases or perform official PAN registration checks.
✓ Legitimate Uses:
- • Pre-checking before official submission
- • Catching formatting errors and typos
- • Understanding PAN structure
- • Internal application validation
- • Educational purposes
❌ Not For:
- • Official government verification
- • Legal proceedings or evidence
- • Replacing IT Department verification
- • Making legal decisions solely based on this tool
These terms mean different things:
| Aspect | Validation | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| What it checks | Format only | Database existence |
| Method | Offline | Government systems |
| Time | Instant | Hours to days |
| Cost | Free | Usually paid |
| Done by | You (this tool) | Government |
💡 In Simple Terms:
Validation checks if PAN format is correct (like verifying a phone number has 10 digits). Verification checks if it actually exists in government records (like confirming the number is active).
- ✓ 10-character alphanumeric identifier
- ✓ Issued by Income Tax Department (CBDT)
- ✓ Used for tax and financial purposes
- ✓ Permanent (doesn't expire)
- ✓ 12-digit numeric identifier
- ✓ Issued by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority)
- ✓ Used for identity verification and government services
- ✓ Biometric-based
- ✓ Personal ID documents
- ✓ Issued for travel and driving
- ✓ Have expiration dates
- ✓ Used for KYC and identity verification
⚠️ Please read this carefully before using the PAN Validator:
- •This tool does NOT access government databases. We cannot verify if a PAN actually exists in the Income Tax Department records. We only check the format.
- •Validation is format-based only. Just because a PAN passes our validation doesn't mean it's registered with the government or belongs to a real person.
- •For official verification, visit the Income Tax portal. Contact the IT Department or authorized government channels for official PAN verification.
- •We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Use this tool at your own risk. We provide it "as is" without any warranty or guarantee.
- •This tool is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for official government verification or professional advice.
LEGAL NOTICE:
By using this tool, you acknowledge that you understand the limitations and agree to use it only for legitimate, lawful purposes. Misuse of this tool for fraud, identity theft, or any illegal activity is strictly prohibited and may result in legal consequences.
This PAN Validator is based on official guidelines and specifications from Indian government authorities. Here are the key sources:
📋 Income Tax Department of India
Responsible body for issuing and managing PAN numbers across India.
🏢 CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes)
Part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance. CBDT sets PAN format and structure guidelines.
⚖️ Income Tax Act, 1961 - Section 139A
The legal foundation for PAN. Section 139A defines who needs a PAN and the process for obtaining one.
🔗 Official Website: www.incometax.gov.in
The official Income Tax Department portal for all government-related information and official PAN verification.
💡 For Official Verification:
If you need to verify a PAN officially:
- 1. Visit www.incometax.gov.in
- 2. Look for "PAN Verification" or "Know Your PAN" options
- 3. Follow official government procedures
- 4. Or contact your nearest Income Tax office directly
Frequently Asked Questions
This PAN validator is completely private and secure. All validation happens in your browser with no server communication. Your PAN number is never stored, logged, or shared with anyone. No login required. No data tracking. Your financial information stays with you.