DECODED: Your PAN card number has deep meaning, unique identity - Check how it is formed

After reading this, you will become a pro at decoding and understanding PAN. Not only this, but you will also get to know the deep and hidden meanings that your PAN card carries.

DECODED: Your PAN card number has deep meaning, unique identity - Check how it is formed
Ever wondered what does the number printed on Permanent Account Number (PAN) is card signify?
Written By: Prashant Singh
Updated: Wed, Apr 24, 2019
04:31 pm
ZeeBiz WebDesk
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PAN Card Number Meaning: Ever wondered what does the number printed on Permanent Account Number (PAN) is card signify? How is it formed by officials? What does it tell? What deep meaning does it carry? Does it reveal anything about the status of the PAN holder? Another set of questions that crops up is how to identify whether the PAN is issued in a company's name or an individual's name or something else? Fret not. After reading this, you will become a pro at decoding and understanding PAN. Not only this, but you will also get to know the deep and hidden meanings that your PAN card carries.

Here is the detailed explanation of "How PAN is formed and how it gets its unique identity?" 

What is PAN?

Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a ten-digit unique alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department. 

How it is formed?

The formation of PAN is discussed below :

1st three characters: Out of the first five characters, the first three characters represent the alphabetic series running from AAA to ZZZ. (E.g. ALWPG5809L).

4th Character: The fourth character of PAN represents the status of the PAN holder (E.g. ALWPG5809L).
"A" stands for Association of Persons (AoP)
"B" stands for Body of Individuals (BOI)
"C" stands for Company
"F" stands for Firm/Limited Liability Partnership
"G" stands for Government Agency
"H" stands for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) 
"J" stands for Artificial Juridical Person
"L" stands for Local Authority
"P" stands for Individual 
"T" stands for Trust

5th Character: The fifth character of PAN represents the first character of the PAN holder's last name/surname in case of an individual. In case of non-individual PAN holders fifth character represents the first character of PAN holder's name (E.g. ALWPG5809L)

6th-9th Character: Next four characters are sequential numbers running from 0001 to 9999 (E.g. ALWPG5809L).

10th Character: Last character, i.e., the tenth character is an alphabetic check digit (E.g. ALWPG5809L).

The combination of all the above items gives the PAN its unique identity. 

(NOTE: All the information cited above is in sync with the PAN explanation given by Income Tax of India Department on its official website)

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