Odishatv Bureau

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: In order to formulate a unified digitalized identification database system, the government has made it mandatory to link up the biometric identifier, Aadhaar with bank accounts, permanent account numbers (PAN), income tax return (ITR), social security schemes and even mobile phones.

Here are the specified deadlines one should remember to link Aadhaar with the various documents, services or products.

  1. Deadline for linking Aadhaar card with PAN for tax returns - December 31, 2017

The government has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar with the Permanent Account Number (PAN) by December 31, 2017. The deadline was to end on August 31 but the Central Board of Direct Taxes extended the last date to December 31. Linking of Aadhaar with PAN is mandatory for processing of ITRs for assessment year 2017-18. Finance minister Arun Jaitley through an amendment to tax proposals in the Finance Bill for 2017-18 had made Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns and provided for linking of PAN with Aadhaar to check tax evasion through use of multiple PAN cards.

   2.Submitting Aadhaar details to avail social security schemes - December 31, 2017

Aadhaar number has to be mandatorily quoted to avail all social security schemes by December 31, 2017. As many as 135 schemes (of 35 ministries) including the free cooking gas (LPG) to poor women, kerosene and fertiliser subsidy, targeted public distribution system and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will be covered by the extension. Meanwhile, the government also plans to make linking of Aadhaar mandatory for driving licence.

  1. Deadline for linking Aadhaar with banks/financial documents - December 31, 2017

In order to achieve financial inclusion, encourage digitalization of banking transactions, bring transparency in financial transactions, the government has made it mandatory for existing bank account holders to furnish the Aadhaar number issued by the UIDAI by December 31, 2017, failing which their accounts will cease to be operational.

    4. Deadline for linking Aadhaar with mobile number (SIM) - February 6, 2018

The government has made linking Aadhaar with the mobile number compulsory from next year. Looking to meet the objective, the deadline to sync up the biometrics with the registered mobile number has been set at February 6, 2018. The move is aimed to reduce unscrupulous usage of mobile SIM cards. The directive is mandatory for all the existing customers while the new users are also advised to furnish their Aadhaar details while buying new SIMs. Since there are various benefits of linking your mobile number to Aadhaar. One can e-verify his/her income tax return using Aadhaar. In this process an OTP is sent to the mobile number linked to the Aadhaar number. One can also update personal details linked to the Aadhaar online by using an OTP sent to the linked mobile number.

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