PAN 2.0 Initiative Introduces a QR Code on the Updated PAN Card; Will Your Existing PAN Card Become Invalid as a Result?

The government has announced the PAN 2.0 project. At the time of the announcement, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the upgrade of PAN includes adding a QR code. This will be rolled out free of cost to all taxpayers. However, the question arises now whether the existing PAN becomes inoperative if it does not have a QR code.

What is PAN 2.0 project?

According to press release issued by the government on November 25, 2024, PAN 2.0 Project is an e-Governance project. The project is being undertaken by the government for re-engineering the business processes of taxpayer registration services through technology driven transformation of PAN and TAN services and also for enhanced digital experience of the taxpayers.
The PAN 2.0 initiative will enhance the current PAN and TAN 1.0 ecosystem by integrating core and non-core PAN and TAN activities along with PAN verification related services.

The Project aims to enable the use of PAN as common identifier for all digital systems of specified government agencies.

The PAN 2.0 Project offers significant benefits including:

i. Ease of access and speedy service delivery with improved quality;

ii. Single Source of Truth and data consistency

iii. Eco-friendly processes and cost optimization; and

iv. Enhancing the security and efficiency of infrastructure to achieve improved agility.

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