The Union Cabinet approved the upgrade of the existing Permanent Account Number (PAN) system, introducing a new feature that will include a QR code on PAN cards. The decision, announced on Monday, also includes a proposal to make PAN the “common identifier for businesses” across various government agencies.
Under the PAN 2.0 Project, with an allocated cost of ₹1,435 crore, the Income Tax Department’s current system will undergo a complete overhaul. The digital infrastructure will be revamped, and PAN will be integrated as a universal business identifier for digital systems used by specified government agencies.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed during the Cabinet briefing that the upgrade for existing PAN card holders would be provided at no additional cost.
The PAN 2.0 initiative aims to streamline taxpayer registration services, enhancing ease of access and service delivery. The upgrade will make PAN the “single source of truth and data consistency,” ensuring greater security and infrastructure optimisation, as outlined in an official statement.
The new PAN cards will feature a QR code, while current cardholders will have the option to replace their old PAN cards with the updated, QR-enabled versions. As of now, around 78 crore PAN cards have been issued, with 98% of them belonging to individuals.
Minister Vaishnaw noted that businesses had requested a unified identification number. With this upgrade, the new PAN system will serve as the common business identifier, addressing these concerns.
Additionally, a unified online portal will replace the outdated software, which has been in use for 15 to 20 years. Vaishnaw further highlighted that the new system will be fully paperless and include a strong focus on grievance redressal.
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