Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identity number issued by the Indian government, has become mandatory for filing income tax returns (ITR) and applying for a permanent account number (PAN). According to the Supreme Court's ruling in September 2018, linking Aadhaar with PAN is mandatory for those who file their ITRs. The deadline to link the two was March 31, 2019.
 
However, there might be situations where you want to delink your Aadhaar from your PAN. Maybe you've moved to a new country and no longer need an Indian PAN card, or maybe you're concerned about the privacy implications of having your Aadhaar linked to your financial information. Whatever the reason, here's how you can delink your Aadhaar from your PAN.
 

The process of delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN

Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Indian government to every individual resident of India. The Personal Identification Number (PAN) is a 10-digit alphanumeric code that is assigned by the Income Tax Department to each taxpayer in India. Both, the Aadhaar and PAN are linked together for the purpose of filing income tax returns (ITR).
 
It is important to note that while the linking of Aadhaar with PAN makes it easier for individuals to file their taxes, it is not mandatory to do so. There are a few reasons why someone would want to delink their Aadhaar from their PAN. Maybe they no longer have an active Aadhaar number, or they may have applied for a new PAN and want to update their information with the Income Tax Department. Whatever the reason may be, delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN is a relatively simple process.  

 
The first step is to log in to the e-filing website of the Income Tax Department using your user ID, password, and date of birth/incorporation. On the homepage, under the 'Quick Links' section, click on 'Link Aadhar'. This will take you to a new page where you will be required to enter your details such as name, date of birth, gender, mobile number, email ID, etc. Once you have entered all the required details, click on 'Submit'.
 
On the next page, you will be asked to enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and 14-digit enrolment ID. Once you have entered these details, click on 'Link Aadhar'. Your request will be processed and if everything is in order, your Aadhar will be successfully linked with your PAN within a few minutes.


What could happen if you delink your Aadhaar from your PAN

If you delink your Aadhaar from your PAN, it will no longer be possible to use your Aadhaar as proof of identity for filing taxes or applying for a new PAN card. This could cause difficulties if you need to file taxes or apply for a new PAN card in the future. Additionally, delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN will mean that any existing linkage between the two will be severed. This could have implications for any benefits or subsidies that you are currently receiving, as these may be linked to your Aadhaar number. know more
 

The benefits of delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN

There are a few potential benefits of delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN. Firstly, it will prevent the government from using your personal data for identity verification purposes. Secondly, it will protect your privacy by ensuring that only those who need to know your Aadhaar number will have access to it. Finally, delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN may also help to protect you from identity theft and fraud.
 

If you're no longer using your Aadhaar card or want to update your information, you can follow the steps outlined in this blog post to delink your Aadhaar from your PAN. Keep in mind that delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN may have implications, such as losing access to certain subsidies or services. However, there are also benefits to delinking your Aadhaar from your PAN, such as increased privacy and security. Ultimately, whether or not you delink your Aadhaar from your PAN is a personal decision.