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BUSINESS & GST

PAN Card Format Checker

Check a PAN’s structure and see what its 4th character reveals about the holder type.

Need to check a GSTIN too? Try the GSTIN Validator.

About this tool

A PAN (Permanent Account Number) follows a fixed 10-character structure: the first three characters are an alphabetic series (AAA to ZZZ), the fourth character indicates the type of holder (individual, company, HUF, firm, and others), the fifth is typically the first letter of the holder's (or entity's) name, the next four are sequential digits, and the last is a check character.

This tool checks that the structure matches the expected pattern and decodes what the fourth character says about the holder type. Unlike a GSTIN's checksum, the Income Tax Department has not published the exact algorithm behind PAN's tenth-character check digit, so this tool cannot verify that check digit the way the GSTIN Validator can — it checks structural format only.

This confirms a PAN is well-formed, not that it's genuinely issued, active, or belongs to who it claims to. For actual verification, use the Income Tax Department's official PAN verification service.

Frequently asked questions

Does this confirm the PAN is real and active?

No — it checks structural format only (the pattern of letters and digits, and what the 4th character indicates). For actual verification of an active, genuine PAN, use the Income Tax Department’s official verification service.

Can this validate the check digit (10th character)?

No — unlike GSTIN’s publicly documented checksum algorithm, the Income Tax Department has not published the formula behind PAN’s check digit, so it can’t be independently verified by a tool like this.

What does the 4th character tell me?

It indicates the holder type — P for an individual, C for a company, H for a Hindu Undivided Family, F for a firm, and several other entity codes, decoded in the result above.

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