Compliance

Structure of PAN

Understanding the unique 10-character alphanumeric structure of PAN can provide insights into the holder's details.

Staff

Staff

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Structure of PAN
Image Credits: Paytm
PAN Number Structure
  1. First three characters: Alphabetic characters running from AAA to ZZZ, representing a sequence.
  2. Fourth character: Denotes the status of the PAN holder. It can represent:
    • P: Individual
    • C: Company
    • H: Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
    • A: Association of Persons (AOP)
    • B: Body of Individuals (BOI)
    • G: Government Agency
    • T: Trust
    • F: Firm
    • L: Local Authority
    • J: Artificial Judicial Person
  3. Fifth character: In the case of an individual, this is the first character of their surname or last name. For entities, it’s the first character of the entity's name.
  4. Next four characters: Sequential numbers ranging from 0001 to 9999.
  5. Last character: An alphabetic check digit, used for validation.

The structure of PAN not only provides a unique identification but also encapsulates specific information about the holder.

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