423. Pan card issued while in

USA will be valid if Pan card

holder returns to India

Questions: Hello Sir, I'm currently in USA and have been working here after my MS over here. I'm having plans to settle down back in my home town in India a couple of years down the lane. I'm intrested to get a PAN card for myself for now to start establishing myself with some investments in India. My question is: If I apply for a PAN card as an NRI now how will I change my status as a NRI to local resident when I get back to India? How will my PAN card as NRI and local resident effect my tax filing? Thanks and regards, (Name withheld on request) Answer: People who do not have Pan cards may not be aware that Pan cards issued in India do not have the card holders address shown on the card. Pan cards have the following information on the card: • Card holders name • Card holders photo • Card holders date of birth • Card holders account number ( which is called the Pan number) • Card holders signature Pan cards are valid not only all over India, but are valid worldwide. Regardless of where you live, whether you file a tax return or not, your Pan card continues to be valid; unless of course the issuing tax authorities cancel the card for some reason, however this sort of situation I believe is rare. A person can have only one pan card. Holding more than one pan card would be deemed illegal. If an Indian resident who has a Pan card in India moves abroad, their pan card continues to be valid and similarly, those who get a Pan card while they are abroad, their pan cards would continue to be valid when they return to India for settlement. Even though pan cards do not show the card holders address on the card itself, the tax department has your address from your pan card application on file. It is good practice to ensure that the tax authorities have your current address. This way, in case a notice or communication is sent by the taxation office, it will be delivered to the proper address. You can go ahead and get a Pan card while you are in USA. When you return to India, you could advise the authorities to update their records to reflect your new address. Changes or corrections to Pan card records can also be done online. Simply visit https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/pan/changerequest.html