I am a certain larger part of perusers of this blog would have PAN Number (Permanent Account Number) issued by the Income Tax Department. Be that as it may, do you realize what do the digits in PAN Number mean?

The following is an example of a PAN Number.

It is a 10 digit alphanumeric number, where initial five characters are letters, the following four numbers and the last one a letter once more.

These 10 characters can be separated in five sections as can be seen beneath. The significance of each number has been clarified further.

Container Number Explained:

1. Initial three characters are alphabetic arrangement running from AAA to ZZZ

2. The fourth character of PAN speaks to the status of the PAN holder.

         C — Company

         P — Person

         H — HUF(Hindu Undivided Family)

         F — Firm

         A — Association of Persons (AOP)

         T — AOP (Trust)

         B — Body of Individuals (BOI)

         L — Local Authority

         J — Artificial Juridical Person

         G — Government

3. The fifth character speaks to the initial character of the PAN holder's last name/surname.

4. Next four characters are consecutive number running from 0001 to 9999.

5. The last character in the PAN is an alphabetic check digit.

These days, the DOI (Date of Issue) of PAN card is referenced at the right (vertical) hand side of the photograph on the PAN card.