India PAN validator
How the PAN format works
- Format
- 5 letters + 4 digits + 1 letter
- Example
- ABCDE1234F
Things to watch for
- 4th char encodes holder type
- 5th char is first letter of surname
- Format-only check
^[A-Z]{5}[0-9]{4}[A-Z]$A PAN (Permanent Account Number) is the 10-character identifier the Income Tax Department issues to every taxpayer in India — 5 letters, 4 digits, and a final letter, for example ABCDE1234F. Individuals, companies, HUFs, firms, and trusts all get one, and it’s required for filing returns, opening a bank account, large transactions, and most KYC processes.
Unlike a purely random code, a PAN’s structure actually carries information. The 4th character encodes the holder type — P for an individual, C for a company, H for a Hindu Undivided Family, F for a firm or LLP, A for an Association of Persons, T for a trust, and several other single-letter codes for government and local-authority entities. The 5th character is typically the first letter of the holder’s surname (for an individual) or the entity’s name, assigned by the department when the PAN is generated — not a value the holder picks.
How this validator works
This tool checks that a PAN matches the required pattern — five uppercase letters, four digits, then one more uppercase letter — entirely in your browser, with no signup and nothing sent to a server. It confirms only the shape is correct; it doesn’t verify that the 4th character is one of the recognized holder-type codes (P, C, H, F, A, T, and so on) or that the PAN is real or registered.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
PAN doesn’t have a documented public check-digit formula the way GSTIN or Aadhaar do, so this validator can only confirm format — it cannot mathematically verify that a specific PAN is genuine or currently active. A correctly shaped PAN that was never issued, or was surrendered or deactivated, will still pass a format check. For confirmation that a PAN is real and linked to a taxpayer, use the Income Tax e-Filing portal, linked below.
Scope: this page and tool cover PAN format validation only — not PAN-Aadhaar linking status, return filing, or KYC verification, none of which a client-side format check can tell you. Use this validator to catch a typo before a form submission; use the Income Tax e-Filing portal to confirm the PAN is genuinely issued.
Content last reviewed 2026-07-07.
PAN FAQ
What does a PAN look like, and what do the letters mean?
Ten characters: 5 letters, 4 digits, 1 letter — for example ABCDE1234F. The 4th letter isn't random: it tells you the holder type, such as P for an individual, C for a company, H for a HUF, F for a firm or LLP, or T for a trust.
Does this tool verify my PAN is real or check its checksum?
No. PAN has no published public checksum algorithm, so this is a format-only check confirming the 10-character pattern is correctly shaped. It can't confirm the PAN was actually issued by the Income Tax Department.
Why does the last letter before the digits matter?
The 5th character is usually the first letter of the holder's surname (for individuals) or entity name — it's a structural detail issued by the department, not something you choose, so it won't match if you mistype a name-derived PAN.