You can download your e-PAN card free of cost from the Protean (formerly NSDL) portal, the Income Tax e-filing portal, or the UTIITSL portal, depending on where your PAN was originally issued. Downloads are free within 30 days of PAN allotment or update; after that, Protean and UTIITSL charge ₹8.26 per download. The Income Tax e-filing portal’s Aadhaar-based instant e-PAN download stays free with no time limit.
What Is an e-PAN Card
An e-PAN is a digitally signed, password-protected PDF version of your PAN card issued by the Income Tax Department. It carries the same legal validity as the physical laminated card and includes a QR code for verification. The password to open the file is your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format.
The physical card and the e-PAN show identical information: name, PAN number, date of birth, father’s/mother’s name, and photograph. The only difference is the format: one is a plastic card delivered by post, the other a PDF you can store on your phone or laptop.
NSDL (Protean) e-PAN Download: Step-by-Step
Applicants who applied for PAN through the NSDL/Protean portal must use the Protean website to download their e-PAN, not the UTIITSL site. Check the back of your existing PAN card or your original application acknowledgment to confirm which agency processed your application.
- Go to the official e-PAN download page on the Protean portal (tin.tin.proteantech.in or onlineservices.nsdl.com, depending on the request type).
- Select “Request for e-PAN/e-PAN XML (PANs allotted in last 30 days)” or the “prior to 30 days” option, based on when your PAN was issued.
- Enter your PAN number, Aadhaar number, date of birth, and GSTN if applicable, along with the captcha code.
- Choose your OTP delivery mode (email, SMS, or both) and validate the OTP.
- Pay the ₹8.26 fee if your PAN is older than 30 days. Applicants within the 30-day window skip this step.
- Download the PDF once payment (if applicable) is confirmed.
Income Tax Portal (Aadhaar-Based) e-PAN Download
This is the fastest free route and has no 30-day restriction, but it requires a mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
- Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal (eportal.incometax.gov.in) and select “Instant e-PAN” or “Download e-PAN” under Quick Links.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and confirm the declaration.
- Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Download the e-PAN PDF once verification is complete.
If your mobile number isn’t linked to Aadhaar, this method won’t work. You’ll need to visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre to update it before using this option, or fall back to the Protean/UTIITSL route with acknowledgment-based verification.
UTIITSL e-PAN Download
Use this only if your PAN was originally issued through UTIITSL.
- Go to the Download e-PAN page on the UTIITSL portal (pan.utiitsl.com).
- Enter your PAN number, date of birth, and GSTIN if required, plus the captcha.
- Select OTP mode and validate.
- Pay the fee if applicable, same ₹8.26 structure as Protean.
- The e-PAN link is emailed to your registered address; click through to download.
Comparison: Protean vs UTIITSL vs Income Tax Portal
| Method | Free Window | Fee After Window | Requires Aadhaar-Linked Mobile | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protean (NSDL) portal | 30 days from allotment/update | ₹8.26 per download | Not mandatory (acknowledgment-based option available) | PAN issued via Protean/NSDL |
| Income Tax e-filing portal | Always free | None | Mandatory | Fastest download, no time limit |
| UTIITSL portal | 30 days from allotment/update | ₹8.26 per download | Not mandatory | PAN issued via UTIITSL |
Pan Card Download Kaise Karen: Quick Reference
Agar aapka PAN Protean (NSDL) se issue hua hai, toh Protean portal par PAN number, Aadhaar number, aur date of birth daal kar OTP verify karein. Agar 30 din ke andar hai toh download free hoga, warna ₹8.26 fee lagegi. Income Tax portal se Aadhaar OTP ke through hamesha free download available hai, bina kisi time limit ke.
e-PAN Card Download via App or DigiLocker
There’s no dedicated official “PAN card download app” separate from the government portals, but DigiLocker (available as an app and web service) stores a verified copy of your e-PAN once linked to your Aadhaar. Once saved in DigiLocker, the e-PAN is accessible offline and accepted as valid ID proof by most institutions.
- Open the DigiLocker app and sign in with Aadhaar-linked mobile OTP.
- Search for “Income Tax Department – PAN Verification” under issued documents.
- Enter your PAN number to pull the record directly.
e-PAN Card Sample: What It Contains
An e-PAN PDF includes the same fields as the physical card, arranged on a single page:
- Photograph and signature
- Full name and father’s/mother’s name
- Date of birth or incorporation
- 10-digit PAN number
- QR code encoding the cardholder’s demographic details
- Digital signature certificate details of the issuing authority
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Common Issues and Fixes
“Payment required” message appearing unexpectedly: This means more than 30 days have passed since your PAN was allotted or last updated. Pay the ₹8.26 fee to proceed. There’s no way around it on Protean or UTIITSL.
OTP not received on Income Tax portal: Your mobile number isn’t linked to Aadhaar, or the linkage hasn’t updated in the Aadhaar database yet. Visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre to update your number, then retry after 24-48 hours.
PDF won’t open: The file is password-protected with your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format (for example, 05011990 for 5 January 1990). Companies use their date of incorporation instead.
Wrong portal selected: If you apply through Protean, only the Protean portal will process your request, and vice versa for UTIITSL. Check your original acknowledgment slip if you’re unsure which agency handled your application.
What Experts Say
Tax practitioners consistently note that the Income Tax e-filing portal’s Aadhaar-based route is the most reliable option for taxpayers who need a free, unrestricted e-PAN download, since it carries no 30-day cutoff. Practitioners also flag that PAN-Aadhaar linkage status is the single most common blocker reported by clients attempting instant download. Resolving the linkage before attempting download avoids most support tickets. For applicants uncertain which agency issued their PAN, checking the acknowledgment number format or the reverse side of the physical card is the fastest way to confirm before choosing a portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is e-PAN download free on NSDL/Protean? Yes, within 30 days of PAN allotment or update. After 30 days, Protean charges ₹8.26 per download.
What is the difference between e-PAN and physical PAN card? None in legal validity. The e-PAN is a digitally signed PDF; the physical card is a laminated plastic card. Both carry the same PAN number and are accepted as valid proof.
Can I download e-PAN without Aadhaar? On Protean or UTIITSL, yes, using your PAN number, date of birth, and acknowledgment details. The Income Tax e-filing portal’s instant download specifically requires Aadhaar-linked mobile verification.
How many times can I download e-PAN for free? Within the 30-day window, most applicants can download up to three times at no charge. After that window, each download incurs the ₹8.26 fee on Protean and UTIITSL, with no download limit on the free Aadhaar-based Income Tax portal route.
Is there an official PAN card download app? No standalone government app exists solely for PAN download. DigiLocker, the government’s official digital document wallet, lets you fetch and store a verified e-PAN copy linked to your Aadhaar.