Is it safe to give my PAN details to a private portal?

It can be, if the portal says clearly who runs it, has a genuine privacy policy, and files on the Protean or UTIITSL systems it claims to use. Avoid any site that hides its fees, guarantees approval, offers you a second PAN, or asks for your internet banking password or OTP.

How long does a PAN update take?

An updated physical PAN card usually takes a few weeks once Protean or UTIITSL accepts the application and verifies the documents; an e-PAN is quicker. The timeline is the same whether you file yourself or through an assisted portal.

How do I track my PAN update after applying?

Use the 15-digit acknowledgement number or the coupon number you received at submission on the same agency's portal where you applied. Our PAN status check guide explains how to track a Protean or UTIITSL request step by step, including what each status message actually means.

Will I get a refund if my PAN correction is rejected?

The government fee is paid to Protean or UTIITSL, so their refund terms apply; check them before you pay. A private portal's own service charge follows its own refund policy, which a reliable portal publishes clearly.

Does a private portal charge more than the government site?

Yes. The government fee is the same on every route (₹107 for a physical card, ₹72 for an e-PAN), but an assisted portal adds its own service charge for preparing, checking and filing the application. That charge should be shown separately before you pay.

Which form is used to correct a PAN in 2026?

From 1 April 2026, individuals use Form PAN CR-01 and non-individuals use CR-02, under the Income-tax Rules, 2026. The old change request form and Form 49A are no longer accepted. Protean labels the option Change/Correction in PAN Data, and UTIITSL calls it Change/Correction in PAN Card.

Do I need a new PAN under PAN 2.0?

No. Existing PAN holders keep the same PAN and don't need to apply again. PAN 2.0 moves PAN services onto a single Income Tax Department portal; until it is live, corrections go through Protean or UTIITSL at their current fees.

PAN Card Update Through Private Portal vs Government Site

Last updated: 10 November 2026

Quick Answer: Only two agencies, Protean eGov (formerly NSDL) and UTIITSL, process PAN change requests, on Form CR-01 since 1 April 2026. A private portal can't issue or change a PAN; it files that same form for you. The only cost difference is its service fee on top of the same government fee (₹107 for a physical card).

Whichever route you take, the application reaches the same two agencies and the Income Tax Department issues the PAN. What changes is who fills in the form and whether you pay a service fee on top.

Overview: Private Portal vs Government Site at a Glance

Route	Who runs it	Official fee	Extra service fee	Support level	Best for
Protean or UTIITSL portal (direct)	The two agencies appointed by the Income Tax Department	₹107 physical card (₹101 paperless), ₹72 e-PAN only (₹66 paperless)	None	Self-service + agency help desk	Simple single-field updates
Aadhaar e-KYC update	Protean or UTIITSL	Free	None	Self-service	Address, mobile or email as per Aadhaar (PAN linked to Aadhaar)
Private / assisted portal	A private company that files on Protean or UTIITSL	Same government fee as direct	A separate, disclosed charge	Guided help + follow-up	Several corrections, mismatches or high-stakes cases

What Are the Official Channels for a PAN Update?

There are two agencies that accept PAN corrections, plus the Income Tax e-filing portal for one narrow case. Every genuine PAN change passes through one of them.

The two authorised PAN service agencies

The Income Tax Department has appointed only two entities to receive and process PAN applications and PAN-related services: Protean eGov Technologies Limited (formerly NSDL e-Gov) and UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL). Either one will do; use whichever issued your existing card if you know it. You fill in the change request and pay online, then either e-sign with Aadhaar (paperless) or post the signed acknowledgement and proofs within 15 days, choosing a physical card, an e-PAN, or both. Once approved, the updated card carries the same PAN number with the corrected details. Neither agency is a government department, so reach its portal from the Income Tax Department's website rather than from a search advertisement.

Which form do you use from April 2026?

From 1 April 2026, under the Income-tax Rules, 2026, an individual files a change or correction on Form PAN CR-01 (CR-02 for non-individuals). New PAN applications moved to Form 93 (Indian citizens) and Form 95 (foreign citizens), and the old Form 49A, Form 49AA and change request forms are no longer accepted. Protean labels the option "Change/Correction in PAN Data"; UTIITSL calls it "Change/Correction in PAN Card".

Income Tax e-filing portal

The Income Tax Department's e-filing portal offers instant e-PAN, which is free, but it is for individuals who have not been allotted a PAN and have an Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Its "Update PAN" option updates details as per Aadhaar e-KYC for a PAN obtained this way. It isn't the route for correcting an older PAN card; that still goes through Protean or UTIITSL. If your PAN and Aadhaar are not yet connected, sort that out first with our PAN-Aadhaar linking guide.

Which Route Should You Use for Each Type of Change?

What you need to change	Where to do it	Government fee
Address, mobile or email, as per your Aadhaar	Free Aadhaar e-KYC update on Protean or UTIITSL (PAN must be linked to Aadhaar)	Free
Name, date of birth, father's name, photo or signature	Form CR-01 on Protean or UTIITSL	₹107 physical card (₹101 paperless) or ₹72 e-PAN (₹66 paperless)
A new card with no change in details (lost or damaged)	Protean's reprint link (PAN last processed by Protean or the e-filing portal), or UTIITSL's Reprint PAN Card option	₹50 on Protean (Indian address)
Several fields at once, or a PAN–Aadhaar mismatch	CR-01 directly, or through an assisted portal	Same government fee; assisted portals add a service fee

What Does a Private or Assisted Portal Actually Do?

An assisted portal helps you complete the official application from start to finish. It handles the paperwork, but it has no say in whether your request is approved. What it typically does:

Prepares and pre-fills the CR-01 form so the fields match your documents.
Checks your proof documents and photo before submission to cut down rejections.
Files on the official rail (Protean or UTIITSL) and follows up on the status for you.

Can It Actually Issue the PAN?

No. PANs are allotted by the Income Tax Department, and only Protean and UTIITSL are authorised to receive and process PAN applications on its behalf. No other entity is authorised to do this, so any site claiming it can "issue" a PAN is misrepresenting the process.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags When Choosing a PAN Website

The most common mistake is judging a site by its design rather than by what it tells you. A logo and a padlock in the address bar only mean the connection is encrypted. Before you enter any personal information, check the following:

A padlock alone is not proof. Scam sites use HTTPS too; check who actually runs the portal and whether it names the official rail it files on.
Fees must be transparent. The government charge and the service charge should be shown separately and clearly, never hidden in a single vague amount.
No "guaranteed approval" claims. Approval rests with the Income Tax Department; anyone promising a certain outcome or a fixed day is a red flag.
Never accept a second PAN. If a site offers to get you a "new" PAN instead of correcting the old one, walk away. A penalty of ₹10,000 can be levied for holding more than one PAN.
Watch for phishing. The department never emails surprise "download links" for your card - fake e-PAN download emails are a common trap.

When Is the Government Site the Right Choice?

Go direct when the update is simple and you're comfortable online: a single correction such as a name spelling, date of birth or signature is easiest on the Protean or UTIITSL portal. With the paperless e-KYC and e-Sign option you sign with your Aadhaar OTP (One-Time Password), post no documents, and pay ₹101.

When Does Assisted Help Make Sense?

Assisted help is worth it when the update is fiddly or the stakes of a rejection are high. Consider it if you have multiple corrections at once, a name or date-of-birth mismatch between your PAN and Aadhaar, or documents that do not quite line up - the situations where a wrong entry gets the application sent back. It also suits first-time applicants and elderly users who would rather someone verify everything before paying. Jaagruk Bharat offers exactly this kind of assisted PAN correction service, filing your request on the official rails. For the full do-it-yourself steps, our step-by-step PAN correction guide walks through the official form.

What Does a PAN Update Cost Either Way?

The government fee is the same on every route; an assisted portal adds its own service fee on top, which should be shown before you pay. Protean's published fees for a correction with an Indian address are:

Option	Documents posted	Paperless (e-KYC & e-Sign)
Physical PAN card (e-PAN also emailed)	₹107	₹101
e-PAN only, no physical card	₹72	₹66
Reprint with no change in details (Protean's reprint link)	₹50	₹50

All amounts include taxes. Dispatch to a foreign address costs more (₹1,017 for a physical card through the standard route). A ₹50 figure elsewhere is Protean's reprint fee, not the correction fee; for a UTIITSL-processed PAN, use UTIITSL's Reprint PAN Card option.

One number this is often confused with is the TAN, which is a separate registration a business needs before it deducts tax at source, applied for on its own form — the difference is set out in how to apply for a TAN number and how it differs from PAN.

What Changes Under PAN 2.0?

PAN 2.0 moves every PAN and TAN service, now split across the e-filing portal, UTIITSL and Protean, onto one Income Tax Department portal. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved it on 25 November 2024, according to the PIB release on PAN 2.0.

Your PAN stays the same. Existing PAN holders don't need to apply for a new PAN.
Fees fall once it's live. Corrections become free with the e-PAN emailed, and a physical card costs ₹50. Until then, the Protean and UTIITSL fees above apply.