International · Validation
PAN card number format validator.
Check the structure of an Indian Permanent Account Number (PAN) and see what its 4th and 5th characters say. Everything runs in your browser. This checks format only; it cannot tell you whether a PAN was issued.
How it works: a PAN is 5 letters, 4 digits and 1 letter. The 4th letter is the holder type (P = individual, C = company, and so on) and the 5th is the first letter of the surname or name.
Inputs
Result
Enter a number and press Check.
How a PAN is built
A PAN has ten characters in the pattern AAAAA9999A. The first three letters run in a series, the 4th letter gives the holder status, the 5th letter is the first letter of the surname (individuals) or of the name (other holders), the next four digits are a sequence number, and the last letter is a check character.
| Letter | Holder |
|---|---|
| P | Individual |
| C | Company |
| H | Hindu Undivided Family |
| F | Firm / LLP |
| A | Association of Persons |
| T | Trust |
| B | Body of Individuals |
| L | Local authority |
| J | Artificial juridical person |
| G | Government |
Format only, not verification
The last character is a check letter but its algorithm is not published, so this tool cannot confirm it. A pattern match does not show that the PAN was issued or belongs to a person. To confirm a PAN, use the PAN verification service on the official Income Tax e-Filing portal.
Confirm it with the issuer
To check that a number really exists, use the official service: Income Tax Department e-Filing portal (PAN verification service). This page never contacts it and does not pass your number to it.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Permanent account number (secondary; 10-character layout, holder-status letters, 5th-character rule). The Income Tax Department guidance PDF blocks automated access, so it could not be checked directly.
- Income Tax Department e-Filing portal
The Income Tax document returned an access-denied response to our automated retrieval on 2026-10-16, so the status letters were taken from a search extract of that document. Re-check the table against the PDF in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 4th character of a PAN mean?
It is the holder status: P individual, C company, H Hindu Undivided Family, F firm or LLP, A association of persons, T trust, B body of individuals, L local authority, J artificial juridical person, G government.
Can a PAN be checked with a checksum?
The 10th character is a check letter, but the algorithm is not public. This tool checks the structure only.
Is my PAN sent anywhere?
No. The check runs in your browser and nothing is transmitted or stored.
Format only — not a registry lookup
This tool checks the number entirely in your browser. It does not query any government register and does not imply official verification. A matching pattern is not proof that the number was ever issued or belongs to anyone. An ID number is personal data: nothing you type is transmitted, stored or logged, but use a sample number where you can.