The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Tuesday announced an extension of the deadline for linking of Aadhaar with Permanent Account Number (PAN) to 30 June 2018 instead of 31 March 2018.
CBDT had earlier set various deadlines for linking Aadhaar with PAN – 31 July 2017, 31 August 2017 and 31 December 2017, before extending it to 31 March 2018.
The CBDT order said the deadline for PAN-Aadhaar linking for filing I-T returns is being extended after "consideration of the matter".
It may be noted that the CBDT had, earlier this month, directed an extension of the 31 March deadline for linking Aadhaar with various other services.
The apex court ordered the extension of the deadline till the five-judge constitution bench delivers its judgment on petitions challenging the validity of the biometric scheme and the enabling law.
The government, meanwhile, has made quoting of Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns (ITRs) as well as obtaining a new PAN.
Section 139 AA (2) of the Income Tax Act says that every person having PAN as on 1 July 2017, and eligible to obtain Aadhaar, must intimate his Aadhaar number to the tax authorities.
As per updated data till 5 March, over 166.5 million PANs, out of the total about 330 million, have been linked with Aadhaar.