PAN Card Duplication: Taxpayer Flags Loan Fraud, Complaints to RBI and Income Tax Dept
To make sure there are no inconsistencies or mistakes in PAN allocations, the Income Tax Department must treat this matter seriously and carry out a comprehensive examination
A taxpayer recently raised a serious concern on social media platform ‘X’, alleging that his PAN card had been allotted to another individual. He discovered the issue upon learning about a loan that he never applied for, yet was linked to his financial records.Standardize Accounting Policies – Specimen Drafts at Your Fingertips! Perfect for internal reference and client...
A taxpayer recently raised a serious concern on social media platform ‘X’, alleging that his PAN card had been allotted to another individual. He discovered the issue upon learning about a loan that he never applied for, yet was linked to his financial records.
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He filed a complaint before the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) against the bank, however, the apex bank has replied that it is the income tax department’s fault. He then took to ‘X’ to voice his grievance publicly, tagging the IncomeTax Department and urging immediate action.
This raises SERIOUS questions: How can a PAN, a unique identification number be associated with more than one person? Could this be a case of duplication, or identity theft? In an age where digital fraud is increasingly common, the latter seems plausible.
The taxpayer shared that “My PAN XXXXXXXXXX is issued to some other person too. How is this possible? An untaken loan was reflecting in my account. I made complaint to RBI against bank they told its Income tax deptt. Fault … please rectify it as soon as possible”
In response to the post, the department has said that “Please write to us with your details, along with color-scanned copies of your PAN and Aadhaar, via email at adg1.systems@incometax.gov.in & jd.systems1.1@incometax.gov.in Our team will get in touch with you. May we also request you not to share personal details like PAN on social media to avoid it being misused.”
WHAT IS A PAN CARD
The Income Tax Department of India issues PAN cards, or permanent account number cards, to people and organizations that conduct financial transactions and make tax payments. The PAN card is the physical or digital card that shows this number together with important personal information. The PAN itself is a unique 10-character alphanumeric identification.
How could there be a duplication if the PAN is a genuine 10-character alphanumeric identifier? For Indian nationals, a PAN card is a vital document that is necessary for all financial activities and tax compliance.
Any breach in its security could have disastrous consequences. The real taxpayer is the one who suffers the most from identity theft or duplication, suffering from harm to their finances, reputation, and legal standing. To make sure there are no inconsistencies or mistakes in PAN allocations, the Income Tax Department must treat this matter seriously and carry out a comprehensive examination.
HOW FRAUDSTERS MISUSE PAN
Fraudsters can misuse PAN details in several ways:
- Obtaining Loans or Credit Cards: Criminals use stolen PAN information to apply for loans or credit cards, often leaving the real PAN holder responsible for debts they never incurred
- Opening Fake Bank Accounts: PAN details are used to open accounts for illegal transactions or money laundering
- Filing Fake Tax Returns: Fraudsters may file false returns to claim refunds or evade taxes
Steps to Take if You found your PAN Card is Misused
1. Report to the Income Tax Department: File a complaint about PAN misuse through the official Tax Information Network portal. You can also visit the nearest income tax office.
2. Monitor Your Financial and Tax Records: Regularly check your Form 26AS and CIBIL score to spot unauthorized transactions or loans.
3. File a Complaint with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI): If the issue involves a loan or a bank, first complain to the concerned bank. If unresolved within 30 days, escalate the matter to the RBI Ombudsman through the CMS portal or by post.
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