PAN-Aadhaar Link Deadline Nears: Inoperative PAN from Jan 1, Face Tax & Banking Woes

• PAN-Aadhaar linking is mandatory by December 31, 2025; PANs issued via Aadhaar before October 1, 2024, are affected.
• Unlinked PANs will become inoperative from January 1, 2026, impacting tax and banking services.
• Inoperative PAN leads to difficulties in ITR filing, higher TDS/TCS, bank account operations, and transactions over Rs 50,000.
• Financial services like mutual funds, stock trading, and SIP investments may also be suspended.
• Linking now requires a Rs 1,000 penalty; the process is online via the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal.

Why It Matters: Link PAN-Aadhaar by Dec 31, 2025, with Rs 1,000 penalty, to avoid major financial disruptions.