PAN card: Submitting this information may soon become mandatory

New Delhi: As part of its drive against fake Permanent Account Number (PAN), the Income Tax Department is considering making the proof of date of birth mandatory for issuance of the cards. "The department might ask for proof of date-of-birth for issuing a PAN card. Ration cards and rent receipts might no longer be accepted as proofs of identity and address for issuance of a PAN card," sources in the Finance Ministry said. According to officials, in most cases of fraud, people have furnished fake ration cards and rent receipts to get PAN card. As of now, depository account statement, bank account statement /passbook, ration card, passport, voter identity card, driving licence, property tax assessment order and certain other documents are accepted as proof of identity as well as address. "We will soon prescribe a format for PAN verification to make the system foolproof and robust," sources said. The sources further said that a notification regarding streamlining process of PAN verification will be issued soon and it will apply only to fresh applicants. Recently, the I-T department has found a number of individuals possessing fake PAN cards as identity proof. According to the official data, 170 million people in India have PAN cards, while only 30 million of them file income tax returns. Many people who do not file tax returns get PAN card as it works as identity proof at many places. The finance ministry had last year brought out a new PAN application form -- 49A -- for use of Indian citizens, companies and entities incorporated in the country which allows the applicant to mention his or her Aadhaar number.