Saloni Kumari | May 13, 2025 |
Can We Cancel PAN Card of Expired Family Member: Know more
When someone in the family dies or passes away, then it is a death process to control his/her financial records. However, this no rule regarding compulsory immediate cancellation of PAN card after someone’s death. But, it is generally recommended to avoid any future hassles like misuse of identification or tax notices in the name of dead person.
People should keep a note, a PAN card is a document that stays active even after the death of a person until and unless it is legally cancelled. However, there is no law on its compulsion, but still, if this is not cancelled, then it can lead to its misuse for money transactions such as opening bank accounts, obtaining loans, or receiving unauthorised refunds. PAN card as a document is also used to settle down problems regarding income tax or file the last tax return on behalf of the deceased person. The PAN should be linked to the successor before its legal deactivation. Turning it off also makes sure the person’s financial identity is closed in a proper and respectful manner.
In order to cancel a PAN card of a dead person, you require an original PAN card (if held), a death certificate copy issued by the hospital or municipal authority, and a covering letter of request for cancellation. In addition to these documents, a duplicate copy of PAN is also required, and proof of association with the deceased person, like a legal succession certificate, Aadhaar card, or will.
These documents assist the tax department in recognising your identity and performing the cancellation.
The first step involved in filing the PAN card cancellation request is to write a letter to the jurisdictional Assessing Officer (AO) of the Income Tax Department. The dead person’s name, date of birth and a request for cancellation of the PAN should be there in the letter. Your signature as the legal successor should be there in the letter. Along with this, your personal details as well as your relationship with the death person must also be included in the letter. Once the letter is ready, you should attach all the necessary documents and either hand it over in person or send it by registered post to the concerned Assessing Officer (AO).
Each PAN card is linked to an Assessing Officer (AO) based on where the person lives or their income group. To find out which officer is in charge of the PAN of the deceased person, you can use the “Know Your AO” tool on the Income Tax Department’s website. Once you find the right AO, you can send your letter and documents to their office for further steps.
There is also an alternative method to cancel a PAN card. The method involves filling out a physical PAN correction form, i.e., Form 49A. The form is accessible at the official website of NSDL. In the form, tick the box that says the PAN should be cancelled and write the PAN details of the deceased person. Attach all necessary documents, like the death certificate and an ID proof, and on the envelope, write: “Application for cancellation of PAN – deceased”. Submit the duly filled-in application form to the nearby NSDL PAN service centre. In this method, you are not allowed to access the Assessing Officer personally.
After filing the PAN card cancellation request, the respective Assessing Officer (AO) will examine your submitted documents and then cancel your PAN. It is not compulsory that you receive a formal approval all the time, you can track your application status by calling the respective AO’s office or visiting there. If you have filed the request using the website of NSDL, then you will receive a tracking number for checking the status of your application.
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