About the PAN Format Checker
A Permanent Account Number always has the same shape: five letters, four digits and a final letter, as in ABCPK1234F. This tool checks that shape and nothing more. It does not look up any database and cannot tell you whether a PAN has actually been issued, whether it is active, or who it belongs to. The check happens entirely in your browser and nothing you type is sent to us.
The format still carries useful information. The fourth character shows the type of holder: 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, B for a body of individuals, L for a local authority, J for an artificial juridical person and G for government.
The fifth character is the first letter of the surname for an individual, or of the name for any other holder, and the last character is a check letter generated by the system. Catching a wrong format early saves trouble: a mistyped PAN on a vendor form, invoice or TDS entry can lead to a mismatch and tax deducted at a higher rate.
How to use it
- 1Type or paste the PAN. Letters are converted to capitals and spaces are removed automatically.
- 2Watch the checklist: each rule turns green as the characters you enter satisfy it.
- 3When all ten characters are in, read the verdict and the meaning of the fourth and fifth characters.
- 4To confirm that the PAN is genuine and active, use the verification service on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
How this is calculated
Pattern: AAAAA9999A — five letters, four digits, one letter. Characters 1–3: alphabetic series · Character 4: holder type (P, C, H, F, A, T, B, L, J or G) · Character 5: first letter of the surname or entity name · Characters 6–9: running number · Character 10: check letter.
Frequently asked questions
What does the fourth character of a PAN mean?
It identifies the kind of taxpayer. P is an individual, C a company, H a Hindu Undivided Family, F a firm or LLP, A an association of persons, T a trust, B a body of individuals, L a local authority, J an artificial juridical person and G a government body. Any other letter means the PAN has been mistyped.
Does a valid format mean the PAN is genuine?
No. A format check only confirms that the ten characters are arranged correctly. A made-up number can have a perfect format. To know whether a PAN exists and is active, use the verification facility on the Income Tax e-filing portal, or match it against the name on the PAN card or the GST registration.
Is it safe to enter my PAN here?
The check runs inside your browser using a simple pattern test. The PAN is not transmitted to our servers, stored or logged, and the checker keeps working even if your connection drops after the page has loaded. As a general habit, share PAN copies only with parties you can identify.
What is the fifth character of a PAN?
For an individual it is the first letter of the surname or last name as given in the application, so a person named Rahul Kumar would normally have K. For companies, firms, trusts and other holders it is the first letter of the entity's name. It is a quick way to spot a PAN that belongs to someone else.
How is a PAN related to a GSTIN?
A GSTIN contains the PAN of the business. After the two-digit state code, characters three to twelve are the PAN, followed by an entity number, the letter Z and a check character. If the PAN inside a supplier's GSTIN does not match the PAN they have given you, ask for clarification before paying.