New PAN rules from April 2026 for taxpayers: What you need to know

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the Income Tax Rules, 2026, which implement the Income-tax Act, 2025. These rules bring major changes for PAN applications and high-value transactions. The rules will come into effect from April 1, 2026.

What’s changing in PAN applications from April 2026?

From April 1, 2026, applying for a PAN card using only Aadhaar will no longer be allowed. Applicants will need to submit additional proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate, voter ID, class 10 certificate, passport, or driving licence.

Until March 31, 2026, Aadhaar-only applications are still valid, but after that, the process becomes stricter to ensure proper verification.

Are there new PAN application forms?

Yes. The old forms have been restructured into category-specific forms:

Indian individuals now use Form No. 93. Indian companies and entities use Form No. 94. Foreign individuals use Form No. 95. Foreign entities use Form No. 96.

Which form should I use after April 1, 2026?

If you are applying for a new PAN on or after April 1, 2026, you must use the new category-specific forms as per the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

What happens to PAN applications pending before April 2026?

Any PAN applications pending as of March 31, 2026, will remain valid. You do not need to submit a fresh application under the new rules.

How have PAN transaction limits changed?

"With the new Income Tax Act, 2025 coming into effect from 1 April 2026, PAN is being positioned as a key identifier across major financial transactions. The focus is on clearly defining where PAN must be quoted so that high-value activities are easier to track and report," said Abhishek Soni, CEO & Co-founder, Tax2win.

What are auditors’ new responsibilities?

Auditors now have a greater responsibility to check for PAN duplication and verify tax liability arising from audit observations. This helps strengthen compliance and prevents misuse of PAN.

"Along with these specific limits, the overall approach is to widen the scope of PAN across transactions and strengthen reporting by financial institutions. This means carrying out high-value transactions without PAN will become increasingly difficult, said Soni.