The PAN card password opens a password-protected e-PAN PDF from Protean eGov Technologies, UTIITSL, or the Income Tax e-filing portal. For individuals, it is the date of birth in DDMMYYYY format. For businesses, it is the date of incorporation or formation, same format.
Last reviewed: August 2026
PAN Card Password Format
An 8-digit date. No spaces, slashes, or special characters. Same format across all three official portals.
| PAN Holder Type | Password Basis | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Date of birth | DDMMYYYY | 06041985 |
| HUF | Date of formation | DDMMYYYY | 12031998 |
| Partnership Firm | Date of formation | DDMMYYYY | 15072010 |
| LLP | Date of incorporation | DDMMYYYY | 22092015 |
| OPC / Private Limited Company | Date of incorporation | DDMMYYYY | 04082012 |
The password is not user-set. It is fixed to the date already on your PAN record. To change it, correct that date through an official PAN update.
How to Download e-PAN and Open It
Protean (NSDL) eGov
- Enter PAN, Aadhaar (individuals), date of birth, and captcha
- Verify via OTP on registered email or mobile
- Download PDF, open with DDMMYYYY password
UTIITSL
- Enter PAN, date of birth, and GSTIN (if applicable)
- Verify via OTP on registered mobile
- Download PDF, open with DDMMYYYY password
Income Tax e-Filing Portal (Instant e-PAN)
- Select Instant e-PAN, or apply fresh via Aadhaar
- Complete Aadhaar OTP verification
- Download PDF, open with DDMMYYYY password
PAN 2.0: Does the Password Change?
No. PAN 2.0 adds a dynamic QR code and consolidates the three portals into one. The e-PAN password stays the date of birth or incorporation date in DDMMYYYY format, on old and new QR formats alike.
Common Password Errors
| Error | Fix |
|---|---|
| Wrong date order (MMDDYYYY) | Use DDMMYYYY: 6 April 1985 = 06041985 |
| Missing leading zero | 9 May 2001 = 09052001, not 952001 |
| Entering the PAN number | Password is a date, never the PAN itself |
| Using a director’s or partner’s DOB | Entity PANs use incorporation/formation date only |
| Outdated DOB on record | Use the corrected date, not an old physical card’s DOB |
| Repeated failure on correct date | Re-download the PDF; file may be corrupted |
PAN Password for Indian Businesses
- LLPs, Pvt Ltd, OPC: Password is the date of incorporation from the Certificate of Incorporation (COI), not any director’s DOB.
- Partnership firms: Password is the date of formation as stated in the partnership deed or PAN application.
- HUF: Password is the date of formation, not the Karta’s date of birth.
- Cross-check the exact date against the PAN application or Form 49A/49AA copy before assuming a password is wrong.
- If incorporation date was corrected after PAN allotment, the corrected date is the working password.
Removing the Password Safely
- Open the file once with the correct password, then use Adobe Acrobat’s security settings to remove it for personal use.
- Do not upload the e-PAN to third-party “PDF password remover” sites. The file carries PAN, name, DOB, photo, and signature.
- Store the unprotected copy on an encrypted personal or company drive, not a shared or public folder.
FAQs
What is the password for a PAN card PDF? Date of birth in DDMMYYYY format for individuals. Date of incorporation or formation in DDMMYYYY for companies, LLPs, and firms.
Why doesn’t my correct date of birth work as the password? The PAN record likely has a different date on file, a director’s DOB was used instead of the incorporation date, or a leading zero is missing.
Is the e-PAN password the same across Protean, UTIITSL, and the Income Tax portal? Yes. All three use the same DDMMYYYY format regardless of which agency issued the PAN.
Does PAN 2.0 change the password format? No. PAN 2.0 changes the QR code and portal structure. The password remains DDMMYYYY based on date of birth or incorporation.
What password do LLPs and companies use? The date of incorporation in DDMMYYYY format, from the Certificate of Incorporation, not a director’s date of birth.
Can I set my own PAN card password? No. It is fixed to the date of birth or incorporation on your PAN record. Changing it requires a formal PAN correction.