Under the new Income Tax Rules 2026, applying for or updating a PAN card will become more rigorous starting April 1, 2026. The simplified Aadhaar-only process, which allowed for quick issuance, is coming to an end. Taxpayers are advised to complete their pending applications before March 31 to avoid the upcoming documentation burden.

Why Your PAN Application Might Get Rejected:

• Lack of DOB Proof: From April 1, Aadhaar will no longer be sufficient as a standalone document. You must provide a Birth Certificate, Voter ID, Passport, or Class 10 certificate as proof of age.
• Mismatched Details: The name on the PAN application must strictly align with the Aadhaar database. Any spelling error or discrepancy will lead to immediate rejection.
• Legacy Forms Phase-out: Existing application forms like 49A and 49AA will be replaced by new forms (e.g., Form 93). Using old forms after April 1 will render the application invalid.

Revised Transaction Limits:

The government has also updated the monetary thresholds for quoting PAN. For instance, PAN is now mandatory for cash transactions exceeding $₹10$ lakh annually and property transactions above $₹20$ lakh.