PAN (Permanent Account Number) CARD  is a unique ten-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Indian Income Tax Department. It serves as a proof of identification for individuals and entities involved in financial transactions within India. Here are some key points about PAN cards 

  1. Purpose: PAN cards are primarily used  for tracking financial transactions, particularly those that are taxable. It helps the government to keep a record of individuals or entities income, tax payments and other financial activities 
  2. Application: To obtain a PAN card, individuals or entities need to apply to the Income Tax Department or designated service centres. Application forms (Form 49A for Indian citizens and Form 49AA for foreign citizens) are available online or can be obtained from Pan centers. 
  3. Required Information:  When applying for a PAN card, you need to provide personal details such as your full name, date of birth, address, contact information and a recent photograph. You also need to submit proof of identity, proof of address and in some cases proof of date of birth.
  4. Unique number:  Once issued, each PAN card carries a unique ten-character alphanumeric number. The first five characters are letters, followed by four numerals and ending with a single letter. For example, the format could be ABCDE1234F.