'Download your PAN 2.0 or upgraded e-PAN' email is fake: What PAN card holders need to know

Taxpayers should ignore any email with a subject line 'Download your PAN 2.0 or upgraded e-PAN.' It's fake.

The Income Tax Department will never send an email asking taxpayers to download PAN 2.0 or an upgraded e-PAN.

Fraudsters are sending fake emails around PAN 2.0 to taxpayers to lure them into clicking dubious links that can lead to identity theft and financial fraud.

"PAN 2.0 is NOT real — it’s a scam! Fraudsters are sending fake emails with subject lines like “Download your new PAN 2.0,” ICICI Bank warned taxpayers in a post on X on September 7, Sunday.

"Clicking the link takes you to a fake site where your personal details can be stolen for identity theft and financial fraud," it added.

What should you do?

On receiving such fake emails, you should follow the tips below shared by the bank to stay safe:

• Ignore emails about “PAN 2.0” or “upgraded e-PAN”

• Never click on links from suspicious email IDs

• Always visit official government/authorised sites for PAN services

• Report phishing emails immediately

What's PAN 2.0?

According to the Finance Ministry, the PAN 2.0 Project aims to simplify the PAN/TAN processes, providing improved quality of service to the public, faster service delivery, and enhanced grievance redressal mechanisms by leveraging the latest technologies.

The PAN 2.0 Project will comprehensively handle issues related to PAN and TAN, including allotment, updates/corrections, Aadhaar-PAN linking, reissuance requests, and online PAN validation, as a one-stop platform.

The project will be implemented through a Managed Service Provider (MSP). However, the selection of the MSP for the PAN 2.0 Project has not yet been finalised.

Under PAN 2.0, taxpayers will not be required to apply for a new PAN. Furthermore, existing PAN holders will be permitted to make any corrections or updates to their existing PAN details, such as email, mobile number, address, or demographic details (including name and date of birth), free of cost after the commencement of the PAN 2.0 Project.