The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department under the Income Tax Act 1961. It is mandatory for filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts, and high-value transactions. PAN verification confirms whether a number exists, the name of the holder (last name only, for privacy), the holder's status (individual, company, trust, etc.), and whether the PAN is currently active or has been deactivated. Verification is offered through the Income Tax e-Filing portal, Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) and UTIITSL — the two PAN-issuing partners. Banks and authorised intermediaries can subscribe to bulk PAN-verification APIs for regulatory KYC compliance.