CBDT extends PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline till March end next year

Extending the deadline to link Permanent Account Number (PAN) to biometric ID (Aadhaar) for the fifth time, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) announced on Saturday, that individuals have the date till March 31, 2019. The latest order was issued late Saturday night.

The late night order released by CBDT states that under Section 119 of the Income Tax act, the deadline for linking PAN-Aadhaar has been extended till March 31, next year. The policy making body has last extended the deadline on March 27.

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According to the latest order, the deadline for linking Aadhaar-PAN for filing IT returns was extended only after ‘consideration of the matter’. It might have been done, keeping in mind of the Supreme Court order, earlier this year which directed the CBDT to extend the deadline of March 31, 2018 for linking Aadhaar card with various other services. The apex court order had stated that unless the five-judge constitution bench delivers its judgment on petitions challenging the validity of the biometric scheme and the enabling law, the deadlines be extended.

Updating the old rules, the government has mandated quoting of Aadhaar for obtaining a new PAN and even filing income tax returns (ITRs).  As per Section 139 AA (2) of the IT Act, ‘every person having PAN as on July 1, 2017, and eligible to obtain Aadhaar, must intimate his Aadhaar number to the tax authorities’. Untill march,  out of the total about 33 crore PANs, over 16.65 crore have been linked with Aadhaar.

Earlier too, deadlines were extended the two database. Those dates were July 31, August 31 and December 31, 2017, March 31 and June 30 this year.