Know Your PAN Card by Using DOB & Name, Email, Official Website

In today's fast-paced financial world, the Permanent Account Number (PAN) is more than just a 10-digit alphanumeric code it's a fundamental key to almost every significant financial transaction in India. From filing income tax returns and opening a bank account to investing in mutual funds or purchasing property, your PAN is indispensable. Yet, it is surprisingly common for individuals to either misplace their physical PAN card or simply forget the number, leading to moments of panic.

If you find yourself in this situation, there's no need to worry. As of September 2025, the Government of India has established robust, secure, and user-friendly digital mechanisms to help you find your PAN details. This article serves as your definitive guide to retrieving your PAN number using details you already know, like your Date of Birth (DOB), full name, and even your email address.

The Official Website: Your Single Source of Truth

Before we dive into the methods, it's essential to identify the primary and only official portal you should use for this purpose: the Income Tax Department's e-Filing website. Avoid third-party websites that claim to find your PAN for a fee these are often insecure and can be vehicles for phishing or data theft. All legitimate methods for PAN retrieval and verification are provided free of cost on the official government portal.

Method 1: The Definitive Way to Find Your PAN Using Name and DOB (via Aadhaar)

This is the most reliable and direct method to find your PAN number. It leverages the mandatory linking of PAN and Aadhaar. Since your Aadhaar card contains your verified full name and date of birth, it acts as the perfect key to unlock your PAN details from the central database.

Prerequisites for this Method:

• You must have your 12-digit Aadhaar number.

• You must have access to the mobile number that is linked to your Aadhaar, as an OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to it for verification.

• Your PAN must be linked with your Aadhaar. (For most individuals in 2025, this is already a mandatory requirement).

Step-by-Step Instructions to Find Your PAN:

Step 1: Navigate to the Income Tax e-Filing Portal Open your preferred web browser and go to the official Income Tax Department website. The homepage is designed to be a comprehensive dashboard for all tax-related services.

Step 2: Locate the 'Instant E-PAN' Service On the homepage, look for the 'Quick Links' section. This section contains direct links to the most frequently used services. Within these links, find and click on the option for 'Instant E-PAN'. While this service is primarily for allotting new PANs based on Aadhaar, it also contains the feature to check the status or retrieve details of an existing PAN linked to an Aadhaar.

Step 3: Proceed to Check PAN Status On the 'Instant E-PAN' page, you will see options to either apply for a new e-PAN or to check the status of an existing one. Click on the button that says 'Check Status/ Download PAN'. This is the gateway to retrieving your PAN details.

Step 4: Enter Your Aadhaar Number You will now be prompted to enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number. Type it carefully into the designated field and double-check for any errors. Once entered, click the 'Continue' button.

Step 5: Aadhaar OTP Verification The system will now send a 6-digit OTP to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar. This is the crucial identity verification step. Check your mobile phone for the message, enter the OTP into the provided box on the website, and click 'Continue'.

Step 6: View Your PAN Details Upon successful OTP validation, the portal will verify your identity and check the PAN database for a PAN allotted against your Aadhaar details. If a PAN is found, the status will be displayed on the screen. It will show a message confirming that a PAN has been successfully allotted and, most importantly, your PAN number will be clearly displayed on the screen.

You can now securely note down this PAN number. The page may also give you an option to download your e-PAN, which is a digitally signed PDF copy of your PAN card.

This entire process effectively allows you to find your PAN using your name and DOB, with Aadhaar acting as the secure, authenticated bridge to access this information.

Method 2: Using Your Email and Digital Footprint

If the Aadhaar-based method isn't viable for some reason, or if you want a quicker, more direct search, your own digital records can be a goldmine. When you first applied for your PAN, the allotment details were likely sent to your email address.

Step-by-Step Guide to Searching Your Email:

1. Open Your Email Account: Log in to the email account you most likely used when you applied for your PAN card. This might be your primary personal email or an older account.

2. Use Strategic Search Terms: Use the search bar in your email client and search for the following terms. Try them one by one:

   • "PAN Allotment"

   • "Your PAN Card"

   • "Form 49A" (This is the form used for PAN application by Indian citizens)

   • "NSDL" or "Protean" (Protean is the new name for NSDL's e-Gov arm)

   • "UTIITSL"

   • "Income Tax Department"

3. Look for Official Communication: Sift through the search results for an official email from NSDL/Protean or UTIITSL. The subject line is often "PAN Allotment for Application Number XXXXXXXXX".

4. Find the E-PAN PDF: This email typically contains a PDF attachment which is your e-PAN. The email body itself will also mention your full name and the allotted PAN number. The PDF will be password-protected, and the password is your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format.

This method is often the fastest way to retrieve your number if you have maintained your email records.

Other Digital and Offline Avenues

If the above methods do not yield results, there are still several other reliable ways to find your PAN.

1. Check Your Financial Documents

Your PAN is quoted on many financial documents. Take some time to check:

• Tax Return (ITR-V) Forms: If you have filed tax returns, your PAN is printed on the top of the ITR-V acknowledgment form.

• Form 26AS (Annual Tax Statement): Your Form 26AS, which can be downloaded from the TRACES website or through your net banking portal, prominently displays your PAN.

• Bank Statements: Some bank statements, especially for a specific financial year, may have your PAN mentioned in the summary section for TDS purposes.

• Salary Slips: Your employer is required to mention your PAN on your monthly salary slips.

2. Contact the Income Tax Department Helpline

If you are unable to find your PAN through any digital means, you can directly contact the Income Tax Department.

• Helpline Number: Call the official Income Tax Sampark Kendra (ASK) helpline.

• Verification Process: The customer service executive will ask you a series of questions to verify your identity. These will include your full name, father's name, complete address, and date of birth.

• Receive Your PAN: If your details match their records, they will provide you with your PAN number over the phone.

Conclusion

Finding your lost PAN number is an achievable task thanks to the integrated and secure digital infrastructure in India. While you cannot directly search for a PAN with just a name and DOB for security reasons, the Aadhaar-based OTP verification method on the official Income Tax portal is the most effective and recommended solution.

Once you have successfully retrieved your 10-digit PAN, your immediate next steps should be:

1. Record it Safely: Note down your PAN number in a secure digital or physical location where you can easily access it in the future.

2. Apply for a Reprint: Visit the Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL portal and apply for a "Reprint of PAN Card." For a nominal fee, a new physical card will be dispatched to your registered address.

3. Secure it Digitally: Pull your PAN card into your DigiLocker account for a secure, government-authorized digital copy that you can access anytime, anywhere.

By following this guide, you can navigate the process of finding your PAN with confidence and security, ensuring this vital financial key is always within your reach.