PAN Registration

Who needs this?

• Salaried employees whose employer needs a PAN before processing salary and tax
• Freelancers, consultants, and self-employed individuals issuing bills or receiving payments
• People starting a shop, firm, or business that needs a business PAN
• Anyone required to file taxes or claim TDS (tax deducted at source) credit
• Vendors or contractors who must quote a PAN on invoices to clients
• Companies and firms registering for the first time after company/firm registration

What documents do you need?

• Citizenship certificate (original to show at the office, plus a clear scan/photo in JPEG, usually under about 2 MB)
• A recent passport-size photo (a clear digital copy for the online form)
• Active mobile number for OTP verification during online application
• Email address to receive updates and the application/submission number
• Permanent and temporary address details (district, municipality/ward, tole)
• At least one family member's details with citizenship number (father, mother, grandfather, or spouse) for personal PAN
• For business PAN: business/firm registration certificate and registration number, plus place and date of business start
• For a company: company registration certificate from the Office of Company Registrar (OCR)

How do you do it, step by step?

1. Open the IRD website (ird.gov.np) and go to the Taxpayer Portal
2. In the left menu, expand Registration (PAN, VAT, Excise) and choose the correct option — Application for Personal PAN (PPAN) for individuals, or PAN registration for a business/company
3. Enter your mobile number and verify it with the OTP code
4. Fill the online form: personal details, address, family member details, and business details if applying for a business PAN
5. Upload your citizenship scan and passport photo in the required format and size
6. Submit the form and carefully note down your submission/application number
7. Visit your selected Inland Revenue Office (IRD/tax office) with your original citizenship and documents
8. Complete biometric verification (photo and fingerprints) at the office
9. Collect your PAN certificate once it is issued, or download/print it from the portal

How much does it cost?

PAN registration itself is free of charge (approximately NPR 0). Budget a small amount (roughly NPR 50–500, approximate and subject to change) only if you choose to pay an agent, photocopy shop, or use a cyber café for help. Always confirm current fees from the official IRD office.

How long does it take?

Approximate only and subject to change. The online form usually takes about 5–30 minutes to fill. After biometric verification at the office, the PAN number is often issued the same day, and the printed certificate is typically available within about 1–3 working days.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the office visit — biometric verification is required even after applying online, so the PAN is not complete until you go in person
• Uploading a blurry citizenship scan or a photo that does not meet the format/size rules, causing rejection
• Entering name spelling or date of birth that does not match the citizenship certificate exactly
• Forgetting to note the submission/application number, which you need to track or complete the process
• Choosing the wrong office location, then having to travel far for biometric verification
• Choosing personal PAN when you actually need a business PAN (or the reverse) for your purpose
• Letting an unknown agent handle everything without checking — the service is free and you can do it yourself

Official sources

Before you go — your checklist

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