PAN Number Format Validator

How to do it

1. 1
   Type or paste the PAN

   Enter one PAN, or paste a list with one number per line, in the box.

2. 2
   Read the status

   Each line shows a tick or a cross; a failed line names the rule it broke.

3. 3
   Check the holder type

   For passing numbers the fourth letter is explained, for example P for an individual or C for a company.

4. 4
   Export the list

   Download the table as CSV or copy only the valid numbers.

About this tool

A Permanent Account Number has ten characters: five letters, four digits and a last letter. The fourth letter tells what kind of holder it is, and the fifth is the first letter of the holder's surname (for individuals) or name. This tool checks that structure, explains each part and tells you which rule failed when a number is wrong. Paste one PAN or a whole list, one per line, and download the results as a table. It checks the format only; it cannot say whether a PAN exists or who holds it.

Who this is for Accountants, payroll staff, small businesses and data-entry teams often receive PAN numbers that were typed by hand or copied from a scan. A wrong letter or a missing digit causes rejected forms and mismatched records. Checking the format before you file saves time. Individuals can also use it to see that the number printed on a card has the expected shape.

What the tool checks The number must have exactly ten characters after spaces are removed, and the case does not matter. The first five must be letters, the next four digits and the last a letter. The fourth character must be one of the holder-type letters: P for an individual, C for a company, H for a Hindu undivided family, F for a firm, A for an association of persons, T for a trust, B for a body of individuals, L for a local authority, J for an artificial juridical person and G for a government agency. For a number that passes, the tool shows each part: the type, the first-letter-of-name character, the four-digit sequence and the final check letter.

Why it cannot confirm a real PAN The last letter is a check character, but the formula is not published, so a format tool cannot recompute it. A number can have the right shape and still not be issued to anyone. To confirm that a PAN is real and belongs to a person or business, use the official verification service of the Income Tax Department. This page does not contact any government system and nothing you type leaves your browser.

Worked example Pasting the four lines ABCPD1234E, AAACS1234F, abcde12345 and BNZAA2318J shows 3 of 4 valid. ABCPD1234E passes as an individual because the fourth letter is P, and its fifth letter D should match the first letter of the holder's surname. AAACS1234F passes as a company because the fourth letter is C. BNZAA2318J passes as an association of persons. The third line fails because its last character is a digit, and the tool names that exact rule.

Tips Remove hyphens before pasting if your source adds them; spaces are ignored already. Watch for the letter O and digit 0, and I and 1, which are the most common typing errors. For bulk work, export the table as CSV and keep it with your records. Treat PAN numbers as personal data: do not share lists publicly.

Worked example

Pasting ABCPD1234E, AAACS1234F, abcde12345 and BNZAA2318J gives 3 of 4 valid, the holder type for each passing number and, for the failing one, the rule it broke (the last character must be a letter).