Message Received for applying PAN through Form 49A is authentic: IT Department:

Message Received for applying PAN through Form 49A is authentic: IT Department The central government is warning citizens against misleading messages about refunds and customs duty payment. Following that, the Income Tax Department sent messages to individual taxpayers about applying for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) or submitting a PAN before the Reporting Entity and a considerable number of recipients wrongly identified such messages as fake. The message stated as, “Attention Sri…., Income Tax Department has received information about certain transactions reported by you in Form 60/61 relating to FY 2021-22. It is requested that if you are not in occupation of a PAN Number, the same may be applied in Form 49A immediately or else, the PAN Number should be submitted to the Reporting Entity within 15 days from the campaign execution date. – Income Tax Department”. Notably Association also posted about the received message on their twitter. They actively engage in and contribute to major tax-related decisions that are subject to public comment. The Income Tax Department responded to the statement released by the association, saying, "This is a genuine SMS/Email from the Income Tax Department." The department further stated that recipients of this SMS/Email should take note:

• If you do not have a PAN, you must get one and disclose it to the Reporting Entity.
• If you already have a PAN, you are required to declare it to the Reporting Entity.
• As specified in section 285BA of the Income-tax Act of 1961, RES include banks, post offices, registrars or sub-registrars of properties, and so forth.
• For any further clarification, may we request you to email your query/concerns at [email protected] or contact our helpdesk at 1800 103 4215.