Context:
The Union Cabinet approved the PAN 2.0 Project to make PAN the “single source of truth and data consistency.” With PAN already linked to Aadhaar.
More On News:
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Income Tax Department’s PAN 2.0 Project, focused at modernizing and streamlining the process of issuing and managing PAN and TAN.
- The PAN 2.0 Project, approved by the Union Cabinet with a budget of ₹1,435 crore, aims to upgrade the existing PAN system and improve its IT infrastructure.
- This project will also work towards making PAN the common business identifier, consolidating PAN, TAN, and TIN under a single system, responding to industry demand for a unified identification number.
- With 78 crore PANs and 73.28 lakh TANs in the current database, this project will consolidate multiple platforms into one unified portal, simplifying access to services like PAN application, updates, Aadhaar linking, corrections and online validation.
Key Features of PAN 2.0:
- A single, unified portal for all PAN/TAN services.
- Eco-friendly, paperless processes.
- Free PAN issuance with faster processing.
- Enhanced security measures to protect personal data.
- A dedicated helpdesk and call center for support.
Benefits:
- For Individuals:
- The PAN 2.0 Project will allow individuals to apply for a new PAN card with a QR code, especially for those with older cards without it.
- The process will be online and paperless and it will also help eliminate duplicate PANs, ensuring that no one holds multiple PANs.
- For Businesses:
- Businesses will benefit from a unified system for managing PAN and TAN services.
- All related tasks, such as PAN/TAN allotment, updates, corrections, Aadhaar-PAN linking, and online PAN validation, will be available on a single portal.
- This will simplify tax filings and make the process more efficient.