— Key Points to Highlight: Last date to link PAN with Aadhaar: 31 December 2025, From 1 January 2026, unlinked PAN will become inoperative.

— Impact: ITR filing blocked, refunds stopped, higher TDS/TCS, and issues in banking, investments, and property deals.

If your PAN is not yet linked, follow these steps to avoid your card becoming inoperative:

- Step 1: Visit the official Income Tax e-Filing portal: incometax.gov.in
- Step 2: On the homepage, look for the "Quick Links" section on the left side.
- Step 3: Click on the "Link Aadhaar" option.
- Step 4: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar Number.
- Step 5: Enter your Name exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card and your Mobile Number.
- Step 6: You will receive an OTP on your mobile. Enter it to validate.
- Step 7: Pay the mandatory ₹1,000 late fee (if applicable) through the portal to complete the process.

If you are unsure about your status, follow these steps to verify:

- Step 1: Go to the official website: incometax.gov.in
- Step 2: Under the "Quick Links" section, click on "Link Aadhaar Status."
- Step 3: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar Number in the boxes provided.
- Step 4: Click on the button "View Link Aadhaar Status."
- Step 5: The screen will show a message:
- If linked: "Your PAN is already linked to Aadhaar."
- If not linked: It will prompt you to link it.

— Notable changes: India has surpassed Japan to claim the 4th position, and the IMF projects India will overtake Germany to become the 3rd largest economy by 2027-28.