Apply PAN Card From USA. Fast, Easy And Secure!

In general, any individual or entity (be it resident, non resident, alien or foreign) engaged in economic, investing or financial activities in India is eligible to file an application for it. Any individual or entity residing in or outside India is eligible to obtain a PAN number. These may include: Indian citizens, non-resident Indians, foreign citizens, Hindu undivided families (HUFs), companies, LLCs, S Corp, incorporations, trusts, LLPs, firms, associations of persons (AOPs), body of individuals (BOIs), local authorities, artificial judicial persons, cooperative societies, government agencies, and other organizations. However, there are some restrictions on certain nationalities, like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and a few more, for obtaining a PAN number.

No. They are not certainly not the same. A 'PAN' is more of an identity proof to track an individuals tax status, whereas an Aadhaar card is both an Identity proof, as well as a proof of address. Basically, an Aadhaar Card is a unique identifying number (UID) given by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Through this, the government aims to establish a database with information on every registered Indian citizen. It collects a person's photograph, fingerprints, and facial scans in addition to their personal information. It is quite simple to identify an individual using this information system by simply cross-referencing their data with the data in the government system.

However, on the other hand; a permanent account number (PAN) is used to track and identify every financial transaction made by an individual. It is issued by the Income Tax Department of India, which is closely monitored by the CBDT, or the Central Board for Direct Taxes. A PAN's most crucial function is to ensure that every citizen fulfills their tax obligation.

In the United States of America, a Social Security Number (SSN) can be considered equal to an Indian PAN number.

• It is a nine-digit number provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to all US citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. The SSN is used for tracking an individual's income and assets for taxes purposes, among other things. Furthermore, the SSN is also used as a unique identity when applying for government benefits such as Social Security or Medicare.
• Whereas, a PAN card is issued by the Indian tax department, in a form of a plastic card (laminated) with a 10-digit number that consists of alphabets and numbers that are unique to the individual to whom it is assisgned. The main aim of a "PAN" is to track and keep records of financial and investment related transactions of individuals and entities that apply for it.

As this is a government process, guaranteeing a timeline is difficult. However from our past experience, we can say that the electronic PAN number (e-PAN) comes in about 24 to 48 hours, whereas the actual printed card comes via post in about 2-4 weeks.

The answer is no. You are not required to pay any tax, just because you acquired a PAN number. You will be paying taxes in India, only if you acrue income in India. In simple terms, it means that if you are making money in India, only then it is compulsory for you to declare your income and pay taxes, and for this you would very much require a 'permanent account number'.

To elaborate, getting a PAN just to verify your identity or for future issues does not mean you will have to pay tax in India. You pay taxes in India if you accrue or generate income in India. Second, unless the Indian tax department specifies it or you fall into one of the listed categories, a PAN number is not necessary.

- You are a taxpayer.

- You are instructed to file for your yearly income tax returns.

- You have a business or profession that makes more money than a specified limit each year.

- You have a taxable salary or income.

- You have made a monetary transaction that exceeds the specified limit.

- You have an Indian bank account (including NRE, NRO, or FCNR) or wish to repatriate funds.

- You have real estate in India or make rental income.

- Or generate income in India through any other source that exceeds a specified limit.

You can use any international or a US issued credit or debit card to pay for your PAN application fee on our portal right here, or through the official website of the Income Tax Department of India. Alternatively, if you are presently in India, you may visit any bank to get a demand draft made, which should be payable to the "Income Tax Department," and send it to the designated PAN center along with your PAN application form.

Yes. You can very much download the copy of the digital PANcard, also known as a e-PAN. You can do this in 2 ways:

1. By going on to the UTI website's tracking URL. And there you enter your coupon number, also known as an acknowledgement number. If you are using our services, then we provide this number to you.
2. Secondly, by downloading the e-PAN's pdf copy right from the email that you will receive from the income tax department of India. This email generally comes to you in about 3 to 5 days, once a PAN number is issued to you. So kindly check the email address which you entered in your application form, as this is where all the communication from the government will reach to you.

A password protected PDF, containing your PAN card is sent by the the government department to your registered email address, and the applicant can only open this digital copy using a password; that is the applicant's date of birth, that must be typed in a numeric form. For instance, if someone’s date of birth is 5th July 1990, then it would be 05061990.

Yes. Now ePAN is a valid form of a 'permanent account number'. To be precise, following the amendments to clause (c) in the explanation occurring after subsection (8) of Section 139A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and sub-rule (6) of Rule 114 of the Income Tax Rules, 1962, electronically issued and digitally signed e-PAN is now a valid mode of issue of Permanent Account Number. You can read the PAN validity annexure here . Also to mention, that the e-PAN has an improved QR code for offline PAN verification. This improved QR code provides the PAN holders' demographic (Name, DOB, Father's Name) and biometric (scanned photo and signature) information. Additionally, the Android version of "PAN QR Code Reader" on Google's "Play store" can be downloaded on any Android phone to access better QR code information.

An e-PAN is an electronic version of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) card, which is a tax-related identification number issued by the Income Tax Department of India to people and companies. An e-PAN card is a digital counterpart of a physical PAN card that carries the same information. An e-PAN card can be obtained through the Income Tax Department of India's e-filing portal and downloaded and printed for use. The e-PAN card is a legal document that can be used for any reason that a PAN card can be used for. Please keep in mind that some businesses or institutions may not accept the e-PAN card as a valid document and may instead require a physical PAN card. In such circumstances, you can request a physical copy of your PAN card, which will be mailed to you.

The documents required to apply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card in India depend on the applicant's category like an NRI or foreign citizen, and the type of entity. Generally, the following documents are required for an individual applicant:

1. 1. For a NRI the supporting documents are:-
   (a) Proof of identity (POI) - This could be a passport, voter ID, Aadhaar card, driving license, or any other government-issued Identity.
   (b) Proof of address (POA) - This could be a passport, voter ID, Aadhaar card, driving license, or any other government-issued ID.
   (c) Proof of date of birth - This could be a birth certificate, passport, or any other government-issued ID.
   (d) and a Passport size photograph.
   
   
2. Whereas, for a foreign citizen including an OCI or US passport holder the supporting documents would be as followed:
   (a) Proof of identity (POI) - This could be a passport, voter ID, Aadhaar card, driving license, or any other government-issued ID proof.
   (b) Proof of address (POA) - This could be a passport, voter ID, Aadhaar card, driving license, or any other government-issued proof of identity.
   (c) Proof of date of birth - This could be a birth certificate, passport, or any other government-issued identity (ID).
   (d) and a Passport size photograph.
3. For a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) or foreigner - An additional proof of address and proof of identity may be needed. And in some cases an apostille or attestation from the Indian embassy would be required. So please check your appropriate category before applying.
4. For a Company, LLC, Incorporation, Partnership firms, Corporation, S-Corp, Trust, HUF and LLP a different set of documents are required. Please visit the official website of the Income Tax Department of India or our company PAN page for more detailed information.
5. In addition to the above documents, you may be required to submit additional documentation depending on your specific situation.

The photograph for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card should meet the following requirements:

• The photograph should be a recent passport-style color photograph, taken against a light-colored, plain background.
• The photograph should be 2 inches x 2 inches (51mm x 51mm) in size.
• The photograph should show the applicant's full face, with the head centered in the frame and taken in a neutral expression with both eyes open.
• The photograph should be taken with a clear and high-resolution image, with no reflections, shadows or glare.
• The photograph should be in JPEG format and should not exceed 40 KB in file size.
• Please ensure the photograph meets the above requirements, as a photograph that does not meet these standards may result in the rejection of your application.

No. The e-PAN is not free and you receive at your email address mentioned in the PAN form, once your application is successfully processed by the government department.

• If you want a physical copy of your PAN card, you can order it too. As of our knowledge cutoff (Until January 2023) the fee (processing + dispatch) for a physical PAN card for Indian residents is Rs.93.
•  And for NRIs and foreign citizens, seeking the delivery abroad is Rs.864. The fee quoted does not include goods and service tax and delivery charges.
• Please note that these fees may change over time, and it's better to check the official website of the Income Tax Department of India or UTIITSL or NSDL for the most up-to-date information, as well as any other requirements.

It takes an approximate 2 to 5 days for your NRI PAN application to be processed, and the delivery through post to any address in the U.S. takes about 20-45 days from the time of acceptance of your application case at the government's office desk. In general, the processing time for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card in India varies and depends on several factors, such as the completeness of the application, availability of an aadhaar card (UID), the accuracy of the information provided, and the workload of the processing center. 

• In some instances when the applicant provides an aadhaar, accompanied with a DSC (digitial signature), his PAN number is generated instantly. At times within 2 hours. However, in absense of a DSC (digital signature) typically for Indian residents, the processing time for a PAN card delivery via post is about 15 working days from the date of submission of the application, if all the documentation is in order.
  
  
• Whereas, for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), U.S. and foreign citizens without having a DSC, the processing time may take longer. It may take about 2-5 days for e-PAN number to be generated and 20-45 working days to receive their PAN cards in the USA or any other part of the world. But it can also take longer in case of any discrepancies or missing information in the application. Thus, it is recommended that you check the status of your application on the official website of the Income Tax Department of India or UTIITSL or NSDL, to get an estimate of when your PAN card will be issued.
  Ask your specific NRI questions here.
  
  
• References:
  (1) https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserRegisterContact.html
  (2) https://www.pan.utiitsl.com
  (3) https://incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/tax-services/apply-for-pan.aspx
  (4) https://www.indiainnewyork.gov.in/index.php/pages?id=WEEvaENpL3VyK3BxTER3cTFYYVJqUT09&subid=cmdoMVhCcHJ0OTArcExPSlREWnFUUT09