In today’s time, PAN card has become one of the most important documents of our identity. From opening a bank account to purchasing a property, its essentiality in every financial transaction has made it an integral part of our lives.
But do you know that many of your personal information is hidden in the 10 letters and numbers printed on your PAN card? Surprisingly, 99 percent of people are unaware of the real meaning of these numbers. Let us know what information is hidden in the 10 letters of your PAN card.
PAN i.e. Permanent Account Number is a unique identification number issued by the Income Tax Department. It is a 10 character alphanumeric code, which includes both letters and numbers. Through this number, the Income Tax Department keeps track of the identity of every taxpayer in the country and their financial transactions.
First three characters of PAN card: Series code
The first three characters of your PAN card represent the alphabetical series. These letters can be from any series from AAA to ZZZ. These three letters are selected by the Income Tax Department under a special process. These characters are random and have no direct connection with your personal information. For example, if one’s PAN number is ABCPG5809L, then ABC are the first three characters that represent the series code.
Fourth letter: a sign of your identity
The fourth character of PAN card is very important, because it indicates your identity. This letter tells what you are in the eyes of the Income Tax Department – individual, company, firm or any other entity. If you are an individual, the fourth character of your PAN card will be ‘P’. Similarly, other letters have the following meaning:
‘A’ – Association of persons
‘B’ – Body of individuals
‘C’ – Company
‘F’ – Firm
‘G’ – Government
‘H’ – Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
‘L’ – Local Authority
‘J’ – Artificial Juridical Person
‘T’ – Trust
For example, if one’s PAN number is ABCPG5809L, the fourth character is ‘P’, which indicates that this is an individual’s PAN card.
Fifth letter: Representation of your name
The fifth character of the PAN card represents your name. This letter is taken from the first letter of your first name, surname or last name. For example, if someone’s name is Rahul Gupta, the fifth letter could be ‘G’, representing the first letter of their surname ‘Gupta’. In our example ABCPG5809L, the fifth character is ‘G’.
Sixth to ninth letters: unique numbers
PAN card consists of four digits from the sixth to the ninth character, which form a unique number. These digits can range from 0001 to 9999 and are allocated randomly. In our example ABCPG5809L, ‘5809’ are these four digits.
Tenth character: check digit
The tenth and last character of the PAN card is an alphabetical check digit. It is used to check the validity of the PAN number. This character is determined based on a special algorithm and is used to ensure the authenticity of the PAN card. In our example ABCPG5809L, ‘L’ is the last check digit.
Other important information about PAN card
Apart from the 10 characters, the cardholder’s name, father’s or husband’s name, date of birth, photograph and signature are also printed on the PAN card. In case of companies, it includes company name, date of registration and PAN number. The PAN card also has the logo and hologram of the Government of India, which ensures its authenticity.
Importance and uses of PAN card
PAN card has become very important for financial transactions in today’s time. It is used for filing income tax returns, opening a bank account, investing in mutual funds, buying and selling property, and many other financial activities. Apart from this, linking PAN card with Aadhar card has also become mandatory.
The unique structure of PAN card makes it a secure identity document. The information hidden in its 10 letters not only ensures your identity, but also helps the Income Tax Department keep an eye on your financial transactions.
Precautions and Safety Measures
The information recorded on PAN card is extremely sensitive, hence it is extremely important to keep it safe. Banks and government agencies often advise people not to share their PAN number with anyone. If your PAN number falls into the wrong hands, it can be misused, causing financial loss to you.
If your PAN card is lost or stolen, apply for a duplicate PAN card immediately. Also, do not forget to link your PAN card with Aadhaar card, as this makes your identity more secure.