PAN 2.0: Do You Need a New PAN Card? Status and Fees

PAN 2.0 is the Income Tax Department’s project to move every PAN and TAN service onto a single, paperless online platform. If you already have a PAN, you do not need to apply for a new one: your number stays the same and your current card stays valid. Nearly two years after the project was approved, though, the new system has not yet replaced the current one. Here is what PAN 2.0 will change, where it stands now, and what you should (and should not) do today.

PAN 2.0 at a glance

• Approved: 25 November 2024, by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
• Cost: ₹1,435 crore
• Built by: LTIMindtree, which won the contract in August 2025
• Existing PAN: remains valid; no need to apply again
• Status: PAN applications are still handled by Protean and UTIITSL as of the Income Tax Department’s latest PAN page

What is PAN 2.0?

The Permanent Account Number is a 10-character ID issued to individuals and businesses, and it is needed for filing tax returns, opening bank accounts and large transactions. When it approved the project, the government said around 78 crore PANs and 73.28 lakh TANs had been issued, according to the PIB release of 26 November 2024.

Today, PAN services are spread across three platforms: the e-Filing portal, Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) and UTIITSL. PAN 2.0 is meant to merge them into one portal and modernise the systems behind them. The government’s stated aims are:

• One portal for allotting, updating and correcting PAN and TAN, and for Aadhaar-PAN linking and verification.
• Paperless processing, with e-PAN sent to your registered email.
• Free basic services: allotment, updates and corrections at no charge.
• A dedicated call centre and helpdesk for taxpayers.
• A PAN Data Vault for entities that store PAN data, to strengthen data security.
• PAN as a common business identifier for specified government digital systems.

Do you need a new PAN card?

No. The Income Tax Department’s FAQ on PAN 2.0 says existing PAN holders do not need to apply for a new PAN and their number will not change. Cards without a QR code remain valid. Under PAN 2.0, a new card is issued only if you ask for an update, a correction or a reprint.

The QR code

New cards will carry a dynamic QR code that shows the latest details in the PAN database. If your card has no QR code, you can request a new card under PAN 2.0, but you do not have to.

e-PAN and physical card fees

According to the FAQ, e-PAN will be free and will be sent to the email address registered in the PAN database. A physical card will cost ₹50 within India. Until the new system goes live, the current fees apply. The Income Tax Department’s PAN page lists ₹107 for a paper application with a physical card (₹72 without), ₹101 for a paperless application with a physical card (₹66 without), and ₹1,017 for a card sent to a foreign address.

Where does PAN 2.0 stand now?

LTIMindtree won the tender with an adjusted bid of about ₹792.5 crore, The Hindu reported in August 2025. The project scope includes infrastructure, data migration, Aadhaar integration, security and helpdesk operations. Reports at the time said go-live was expected within about 18 months, which would point to early 2027. Neither the department nor the company has publicly confirmed a revised timeline.

The Income Tax Department’s PAN page, last updated on 17 April 2026, still sends applicants to Protean and UTIITSL. We could not find any official notice of a PAN 2.0 launch date as of 2 November 2026.

New forms under the Income-tax Act, 2025

PAN rules have changed in another way this year. The Income-tax Act, 2025 and the Income-tax Rules, 2026 brought in new forms. The department’s PAN page lists Forms 93 to 96 for PAN applications, and Forms CR-01 and CR-02 for changes and corrections. Aadhaar is mandatory for individuals eligible to get one.

Watch out for PAN 2.0 scams

New government schemes always attract fraud. Since PAN 2.0 was announced, fake emails and messages have asked people to “download your new PAN card” through a link. Keep these rules in mind:

• You do not need to do anything to keep your PAN valid under PAN 2.0.
• Do not click links in unsolicited emails or SMS, and never share OTPs, bank details or card numbers.
• Use only incometax.gov.in, the Income Tax Department site, or the official Protean and UTIITSL portals.
• Calls threatening arrest over your PAN or Aadhaar are a known fraud pattern. Read our guide to the digital arrest scam and report fraud on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

The same rule applies to other KYC drives this year: LPG e-KYC is free and happens only through official apps or your distributor.

What you should do now

• Check Aadhaar-PAN linking on the e-Filing portal. An unlinked PAN can become inoperative.
• Keep your email and mobile number up to date in the PAN database, as PAN 2.0 will send e-PAN by email.
• Pensioners filing their life certificate before 30 November at a camp should carry a copy of their Aadhaar, PAN or PPO, as the camp schedules ask for one of these.
• Keep using your current card. It remains valid for bank, payment and tax purposes, including UPI-linked accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Is PAN 2.0 mandatory?

No. Existing PANs and cards remain valid. A new card is issued only if you ask for one.

Will my PAN number change under PAN 2.0?

No. The Income Tax Department’s FAQ says the PAN number stays the same.

Is PAN 2.0 live?

Not yet, as of 2 November 2026. Applications still go through Protean and UTIITSL, and no launch date has been announced.

How much will a PAN 2.0 card cost?

e-PAN will be free. A physical card will cost ₹50 within India, according to the department’s FAQ.

Who is building PAN 2.0?

LTIMindtree won the contract in August 2025, with an adjusted bid of about ₹792.5 crore.

Featured image: Ministry of Defence, Government of India / Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India.