PAN Card 2.0 primarily impacted individuals who had linked their Aadhaar and PAN cards. Previously, minor discrepancies in the data between the two documents were often overlooked. However, with the implementation of PAN 2.0, strict data matching is enforced. This means that any mismatch, even minor, can lead to issues in processing tax returns, financial transactions, and other government services.
This has particularly affected individuals who have updated their Aadhaar details after linking it to their PAN. Many people have changed their details, especially names and addresses, to align with their children's educational requirements. This has resulted in significant discrepancies between their PAN and Aadhaar card information.
The registered email ID can pose significant challenges in the implementation of PAN Card 2.0 system:
The government has announced a new initiative called "PAN 2.0," which aims to streamline the rocess of delivering new e-PAN cards. According to this announcement, there is no need for individuals to reapply for their PAN cards. Instead, the new e-PAN will be sent directly to the registered email address of the PAN holder. While this is an excellent step towards digitization and convenience, the reality of its implementation presents several challenges that could affect its success.
Firstly, more than 50% of PAN card holders have their email addresses registered as those of third parties, such as Chartered Accountants (CAs), tax consultants, or PAN card service providers, rather than their personal email addresses. As a result, the new e-PAN might be sent to these third-party email accounts, which could cause delays or complications in accessing the e-PAN. Many individuals might not be aware that the email is waiting in their consultant’s inbox and may not take prompt action to obtain it. (Such consultants will receive 25-50 or more emails at once, they will not even know which email is for which client, because some details will be masked for security reasons.)
Secondly, even among the individuals who have their own email addresses registered, a significant number—estimated at 50%—do not actively check or read their emails. This lack of awareness or engagement with email communication means that even when the new e-PAN is delivered to them, they might miss the notification or not act on it in a timely manner.
Additionally, for those who do read their emails, many may not be familiar with the process of downloading or opening the attached e-PAN file. While e-PAN is a simple PDF document, the lack of digital literacy and familiarity with handling such attachments could pose a significant barrier. Many individuals might find it challenging to download the e-PAN, especially if they are not accustomed to accessing official documents online or if they are unsure how to open and save the file securely.
In conclusion, while the government's "PAN 2.0" initiative is a positive step towards digital convenience, it faces several practical hurdles that need to be addressed. These include ensuring that PAN holders have their own email addresses registered, improving awareness about checking and handling email attachments, and providing more accessible guidance for individuals to download and use their e-PANs. Without addressing these issues, the full benefits of this initiative may not be realized by a significant portion of the population.
Sugeested Solution : The Income Tax Department should send an SMS containing a link for updating email addresses to all PAN card holders on their registered mobile numbers before issuing the new digital ePAN.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed here are solely those of the author. The intention is not to blame or criticize any individual, including government officials or any other parties. The author is simply sharing their opinions, experiences, and perspectives on the topic, without making any personal accusations or generalizing actions. The purpose of this writing is to provide insight on the subject from the author’s point of view and is meant to inform, not to cast judgment.
It is important to note that this writing does not aim to target or impact any individual, group, government policy, or personnel in any negative way. The focus is on offering a thoughtful perspective without undermining or disparaging anyone.
