Frequently Asked Questions
PAN is a 10-character alphanumeric code: first 3 are letters (series), 4th letter is taxpayer type (P=individual, C=company, etc.), 5th is first letter of surname (individuals) or entity name, 6th-9th are digits, and 10th is a check letter.
P = Individual, C = Company, H = HUF, F = Firm, A = AOP, B = BOI, G = Government, J = Artificial Juridical Person, L = Local Authority, T = Trust.
Yes. The Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) has a "Verify PAN" feature. You can verify whether a PAN is active or inactive.
No. This tool validates the format and structure of your PAN (checksum, character pattern). It does not connect to the Income Tax database.
If your PAN card number fails format check, contact your nearest NSDL/UTIITSL centre or apply for a correction at the Income Tax e-filing portal.
About this calculator
Check whether a PAN number has the correct structure and decode what each character means: holder type, name initial and the check letter.
This validates format only. It cannot confirm that a PAN exists or who owns it; for that use the Income Tax portal's 'Verify PAN' service.
How to use it
- Type or paste the PAN.
- Read the validity result and the decoded parts.
- Try the sample numbers to see valid and invalid patterns.
PAN structure
A PAN has 10 characters: AAAAA9999A. Characters 1 to 3 are letters (an alphabetical series). Character 4 is the holder type: P individual, C company, H Hindu Undivided Family, F firm or LLP, A association of persons, B body of individuals, G government, J artificial juridical person, L local authority, T trust. Character 5 is the first letter of the holder's surname (individuals) or name (others). Characters 6 to 9 are digits (a sequence number) and character 10 is an alphabetic check letter.
Worked example
ABCPE1234F
| ABC | series letters |
| P | holder type: individual |
| E | first letter of surname |
| 1234 | sequence number |
| F | check letter |
Tips and common mistakes
- Never share your PAN publicly with other documents.
- A PAN is permanent for life; you cannot have two.
- Link PAN with Aadhaar as required.
- A PAN's fourth letter P means an individual.
- Verify through the official portal before relying on a number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the format of a PAN?
Five letters, four digits, one letter.
What does the 4th character mean?
The type of holder, such as P for individual and C for company.
Does this confirm the PAN is real?
No, only the format.
How can I verify a PAN?
Use 'Verify Your PAN' on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
Is it case-sensitive?
PANs are uppercase.
Is my PAN sent anywhere?
No.