PAN Card Download Online: e-PAN for Individuals, Companies and LLPs (2026)

An e-PAN is a digitally signed PDF of your PAN card, and it's valid everywhere a physical PAN card is accepted. You can download it online in minutes from one of three official sources:

• the Income Tax e-Filing portal (free, individuals with Aadhaar),
• Protean (formerly NSDL),
• UTIITSL.

Companies, LLPs, partnership firms and trusts can download their e-PAN too, but not through the Aadhaar-based Instant e-PAN service. They use Protean or UTIITSL with the PAN and date of incorporation. This guide covers both routes, the PDF password, fees and what PAN 2.0 changes.

Which Method Should You Use?

How to know who issued your PAN: check the back of your physical card or your PAN acknowledgement. Recent PAN cards issued by Protean mention it on the card. If you're unsure, try Protean first; it tells you if the PAN isn't in its records.

How to Download e-PAN for a Company, LLP or Firm

Check Agency

Find out whether Protean or UTIITSL issued the business PAN. Check the PAN acknowledgement, the allotment email or the back of the card.

Open Portal

Go to the e-PAN download page of Protean or UTIITSL and choose the option to download e-PAN using PAN, not acknowledgement number, unless you've just applied.

Enter Details

Enter the business PAN, the date of incorporation or formation, and the GSTIN if the form asks for it. Complete the captcha.

Verify OTP

An OTP is sent to the email or mobile registered with the PAN. Make sure these are current; otherwise update them first through a PAN change request.

Pay If Needed

Download is free within 30 days of allotment or update. After that, pay ₹8.26 online. The e-PAN is then sent to the registered email or made available as a PDF.

Open PDF

Open the PDF using the date of incorporation in DDMMYYYY format. Save it securely, as you'll need it for bank accounts, GST and tenders.

How to Download e-PAN as an Individual

Income Tax Portal (Free, Aadhaar-based)

1. Go to incometax.gov.in → Instant e-PAN → Check Status / Download PAN.
2. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and verify the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
3. Download the e-PAN PDF. This works for PANs allotted through the Instant e-PAN service.

Protean (formerly NSDL)

1. Open Protean's e-PAN download page and select download by PAN.
2. Enter your PAN, Aadhaar and date of birth, then accept the declaration.
3. Choose where to receive the OTP, verify it, and pay ₹8.26 if more than 30 days have passed.
4. Download the PDF or receive it on your registered email.

UTIITSL

1. Open UTIITSL's e-PAN page and enter your PAN, date of birth and captcha.
2. Verify the OTP on your registered email or mobile.
3. Pay the fee if applicable and download the e-PAN.

e-PAN PDF Password

Fees for PAN Download and Reprint

Why an e-PAN Is Useful for Businesses

Instant Proof

Banks, GST officers and clients accept the e-PAN as valid proof, so you don't have to wait for a reprint when the original is lost.

Easy Sharing

A PDF is easy to attach to tender documents, vendor registrations and loan applications. Keep it password-protected when emailing.

Digitally Signed

The e-PAN carries a digital signature and QR code, so the recipient can verify that it's genuine.

No Courier Wait

Lost or damaged physical cards need a reprint that takes days. An e-PAN download takes minutes.

Always Available

Store it in DigiLocker or your company's document vault so the accounts, legal and banking teams can access it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Wrong Portal

Trying Protean for a UTIITSL PAN, or the other way round, shows "no record found". Check the issuing agency first.

Outdated Contacts

The OTP goes to the email or mobile in PAN records. If these belong to a former employee or old CA, update them first.

Wrong Password

Companies often try the director's date of birth. The password is the entity's date of incorporation.

Fake Websites

Use only incometax.gov.in, Protean's official site or UTIITSL's official site. Ignore sites charging extra for "fast" downloads.

Practical Example

A Bengaluru-based LLP needs its PAN for a new current account, but the physical card is with a former partner. Its accountant opens Protean's e-PAN page and enters the LLP's PAN and date of incorporation, 18 June 2022.

The OTP goes to an old email, so she first submits a PAN change request to update the email. Once updated, she downloads the e-PAN free within the 30-day window and opens it with the password 18062022. The bank accepts it the same day.

Latest Updates: PAN 2.0

• PAN 2.0 approved: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved PAN 2.0 on 25 November 2024 with an outlay of ₹1,435 crore. It aims to bring PAN and TAN services onto a single digital platform.
• QR code: New PAN cards and e-PANs carry an enhanced QR code for instant verification.
• Existing PANs stay valid: You don't need to reapply. Your current PAN number and card remain valid.
• Free e-PAN: e-PAN delivery by email is free under PAN 2.0. Portal fees for older downloads may still apply until the unified platform is fully live.

Check incometax.gov.in for the current status of the unified PAN 2.0 portal before relying on specific steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I download my PAN card online? Use the Income Tax portal's Instant e-PAN service with Aadhaar, or the e-PAN page of Protean or UTIITSL, depending on which agency issued your PAN.

2. Can a company download its e-PAN? Yes. Companies, LLPs and firms use Protean or UTIITSL with the PAN and date of incorporation. The Aadhaar-based Instant e-PAN service is only for individuals.

3. What is the password for an e-PAN PDF? Date of birth in DDMMYYYY format for individuals, and date of incorporation or formation in DDMMYYYY format for businesses.

4. Is e-PAN download free? It's free on the Income Tax portal and free on Protean or UTIITSL within 30 days of allotment or update. After that, ₹8.26 is charged.

5. Is e-PAN valid as proof? Yes. An e-PAN is digitally signed and is valid wherever a physical PAN card is accepted.

6. How do I know if my PAN was issued by Protean or UTIITSL? Check the back of your card or the acknowledgement. If unsure, try Protean first; it tells you if the PAN isn't in its records.

7. Do I need to apply again for PAN 2.0? No. Existing PAN cards remain valid. You only need a new card if you want a reprint or an update.

8. My registered email is old. How do I get the OTP? Submit a PAN change or correction request to update the email and mobile, then download the e-PAN.

9. Can I download e-PAN using the acknowledgement number? Yes. Protean and UTIITSL let you use the acknowledgement number for recently applied PANs.

10. Can I get a physical PAN card after downloading e-PAN? Yes. You can request a reprint from the issuing agency for a small fee.

Conclusion

Downloading an e-PAN is quick once you use the right portal. Individuals with Aadhaar can use the free Instant e-PAN service. Businesses need Protean or UTIITSL with their date of incorporation. Keep your registered email and mobile current, as that's where the OTP goes.

Need help updating PAN details for your company or LLP? Contact StartupFlora for help with PAN, TAN and other registrations.

Disclaimer

StartupFlora is a consulting and advisory firm and is not affiliated with the Income Tax Department, Protean or UTIITSL. Fees and steps may change; check the official portals before applying.