What is the acknowledgement number and where do I find it?

A fifteen digit number issued the moment your payment was accepted. It is shown on screen at that point and emailed to the address on the application.

Can I check my PAN status without an acknowledgement number?

On some channels, yes, using your name and date of birth. The acknowledgement number is faster and more reliable.

My status says objection raised. What does that mean?

Something did not match and a response is required from you. It is the only status that stalls indefinitely if ignored - it does not resolve itself.

My status has said under process for three weeks. Is that normal?

At around fifteen working days from verification with no movement, raise it rather than keep waiting. At around thirty days, escalate through the grievance facility on the channel you applied through.

How do I track an instant e-PAN request?

In the Instant e-PAN section of the Income Tax e-filing portal, using your Aadhaar number and an OTP - not through Protean or UTIITSL.

My PAN was dispatched but never arrived. What now?

A reprint is usually faster than a complaint, and downloading the e-PAN is faster still. The e-PAN is a legally valid PAN on its own.

Can I use my e-PAN before the physical card arrives?

Yes. Allotment and dispatch are separate events. Once the e-PAN is issued you hold a legally valid PAN and can file returns, complete KYC and open accounts with it.

My application was rejected. Do I get the fee back?

No. The government fee is not refundable on rejection. A fresh, corrected application is required.

Can Regikart follow up on an application I filed myself?

Yes. Send us the acknowledgement number and the channel you applied through and we will take it from there.

PAN Application Status

How to check your PAN application status.

A fifteen digit acknowledgement number, issued the moment your payment was accepted and also emailed to you, is what you need. Without it you can still check using your name and date of birth on some channels, but the acknowledgement number is faster and more reliable.

Talk to a partner See process

Qualified CA / CS partnersEscalate at ~15 working days, grievance at ~30Best for: Anyone tracking a filed PAN application

Starting at

₹499 onwards (assistance)

PAN status

Anyone tracking a filed PAN application

Check on the channel you applied through

'Objection raised' is the only status that stalls forever

An e-PAN is a legally valid PAN on its own

The fee is not refundable on rejection

Timeline

Escalate at ~15 working days, grievance at ~30

What it is

PAN status, explained in plain English.

Check on the channel you applied through. A Protean acknowledgement number will not resolve on the UTIITSL portal and the reverse is equally true, which is a frequent source of unnecessary panic. Protean applications are tracked on the Protean TIN PAN status facility using the acknowledgement number; UTIITSL applications on the UTIITSL PAN status facility using the application coupon number; and an instant e-PAN in the Instant e-PAN section of the e-filing portal using your Aadhaar number and an OTP.

TL;DR

Allotment and dispatch are two separate events. Allotment produces the number and the e-PAN; dispatch produces the plastic card. An applicant who has received their e-PAN already holds a legally valid PAN and can file returns, complete KYC and open accounts with it, whether or not the card has arrived.

Key terms

The vocabulary you'll see on the portal.

Acknowledgement number

The fifteen digit number issued the moment your payment was accepted, and emailed to you. The fastest and most reliable way to track.

Under process

In the queue - nothing is wrong. Wait and check again in a few working days.

Objection raised

Something did not match and a response is required. This is the only status that stalls indefinitely if ignored - it does not resolve itself, it is waiting for you.

Dispatched

The physical card has left with a consignment reference. Track the consignment; the e-PAN was already emailed at allotment.

Routes & scenarios

Match the situation to the right fix.

What each status message means

Six messages cover almost every case.

Under process: in the queue, nothing is wrong - wait
Documents not received: confirm the courier reached the processing office within the dispatch window
Objection raised: act immediately, this one stalls forever if ignored
PAN allotted: the number exists and the e-PAN is emailed to the address on the application
Dispatched: track the consignment reference
Application failed or rejected: the fee is not refundable and a corrected fresh application is required

What to do about a delay

Waiting longer is rarely the answer once the ordinary window has passed.

~15 working days from verification with no movement: raise it
~30 days: escalate through the grievance facility on your channel
Shows dispatched but never arrived: a reprint is usually faster than a complaint
Downloading the e-PAN is faster still

The process

PAN status - from kickoff to confirmation.

Find your acknowledgement number

Fifteen digits, issued when your payment was accepted and emailed to you at the same time.

Use the right channel

Protean, UTIITSL or the e-filing portal for an instant e-PAN. A number from one channel will not resolve on another.

Read the status properly

'Under process' needs patience; 'objection raised' needs action today. They look similar on screen and are not remotely the same.

Escalate if it stalls

Raise it at around fifteen working days and use the grievance facility at around thirty. We can follow up on an application even if you filed it yourself.

Documents required

What we'll need from you.

Upload via our secure portal. We pre-check every scan before filing - cuts portal rejections by ~90%.

Fifteen digit acknowledgement number (Protean) or application coupon number (UTIITSL)

Aadhaar number and linked mobile, for an instant e-PAN request

Full name and date of birth exactly as applied, where checking without an acknowledgement number

Payment reference, where the acknowledgement email cannot be found

PAN status FAQ

Common questions, answered by partners.

Still unsure if PAN status is right for your case? Book a free 20-minute consult - a senior CA / CS will walk you through your specifics.

Still have questions?

Book a free 20-minute consult with a senior partner - we'll walk through your case and outline next steps.

Talk to a partner →

On the channel you applied through - the Protean TIN PAN status facility using your acknowledgement number, the UTIITSL facility using your application coupon number, or the Instant e-PAN section of the e-filing portal using your Aadhaar and an OTP.

Ready when you are

Let's get your PAN status sorted this week.

A senior CA / CS will get on a call with you, confirm scope and start the work - usually within 24 hours.

Talk to a partner Browse Tax Filing & Compliance

PAN Application Status

How to check your PAN application status.

Talk to a partner See process

Qualified CA / CS partnersEscalate at ~15 working days, grievance at ~30Best for: Anyone tracking a filed PAN application

Starting at

₹499 onwards (assistance)

PAN status

Anyone tracking a filed PAN application

Check on the channel you applied through

'Objection raised' is the only status that stalls forever

An e-PAN is a legally valid PAN on its own

The fee is not refundable on rejection

Timeline

Escalate at ~15 working days, grievance at ~30

What it is

PAN status, explained in plain English.

TL;DR

Key terms

The vocabulary you'll see on the portal.

Acknowledgement number

The fifteen digit number issued the moment your payment was accepted, and emailed to you. The fastest and most reliable way to track.

Under process

In the queue - nothing is wrong. Wait and check again in a few working days.

Objection raised

Something did not match and a response is required. This is the only status that stalls indefinitely if ignored - it does not resolve itself, it is waiting for you.

Dispatched

The physical card has left with a consignment reference. Track the consignment; the e-PAN was already emailed at allotment.

Routes & scenarios

Match the situation to the right fix.

What each status message means

Six messages cover almost every case.

Under process: in the queue, nothing is wrong - wait
Documents not received: confirm the courier reached the processing office within the dispatch window
Objection raised: act immediately, this one stalls forever if ignored
PAN allotted: the number exists and the e-PAN is emailed to the address on the application
Dispatched: track the consignment reference
Application failed or rejected: the fee is not refundable and a corrected fresh application is required

What to do about a delay

Waiting longer is rarely the answer once the ordinary window has passed.

~15 working days from verification with no movement: raise it
~30 days: escalate through the grievance facility on your channel
Shows dispatched but never arrived: a reprint is usually faster than a complaint
Downloading the e-PAN is faster still

The process

PAN status - from kickoff to confirmation.

Find your acknowledgement number

Fifteen digits, issued when your payment was accepted and emailed to you at the same time.

Use the right channel

Protean, UTIITSL or the e-filing portal for an instant e-PAN. A number from one channel will not resolve on another.

Read the status properly

'Under process' needs patience; 'objection raised' needs action today. They look similar on screen and are not remotely the same.

Escalate if it stalls

Raise it at around fifteen working days and use the grievance facility at around thirty. We can follow up on an application even if you filed it yourself.

Documents required

What we'll need from you.

Upload via our secure portal. We pre-check every scan before filing - cuts portal rejections by ~90%.

Fifteen digit acknowledgement number (Protean) or application coupon number (UTIITSL)

Aadhaar number and linked mobile, for an instant e-PAN request

Full name and date of birth exactly as applied, where checking without an acknowledgement number

Payment reference, where the acknowledgement email cannot be found

PAN status FAQ

Common questions, answered by partners.

Still unsure if PAN status is right for your case? Book a free 20-minute consult - a senior CA / CS will walk you through your specifics.

Still have questions?

Book a free 20-minute consult with a senior partner - we'll walk through your case and outline next steps.

Talk to a partner →

Ready when you are

Let's get your PAN status sorted this week.

A senior CA / CS will get on a call with you, confirm scope and start the work - usually within 24 hours.

Talk to a partner Browse Tax Filing & Compliance

How to check your PAN application status.

PAN status, explained in plain English.

The vocabulary you'll see on the portal.

Match the situation to the right fix.

What each status message means

What to do about a delay

PAN status - from kickoff to confirmation.

Find your acknowledgement number

Use the right channel

Read the status properly

Escalate if it stalls

What we'll need from you.

Common questions, answered by partners.

How do I check my PAN application status?

What is the acknowledgement number and where do I find it?

Can I check my PAN status without an acknowledgement number?

My status says objection raised. What does that mean?

My status has said under process for three weeks. Is that normal?

Let's get your PAN status sorted this week.

How to check your PAN application status.

PAN status, explained in plain English.

The vocabulary you'll see on the portal.

Match the situation to the right fix.

What each status message means

What to do about a delay

PAN status - from kickoff to confirmation.

Find your acknowledgement number

Use the right channel

Read the status properly

Escalate if it stalls

What we'll need from you.

Common questions, answered by partners.

How do I check my PAN application status?

What is the acknowledgement number and where do I find it?

Can I check my PAN status without an acknowledgement number?

My status says objection raised. What does that mean?

My status has said under process for three weeks. Is that normal?

Let's get your PAN status sorted this week.