PAN Name Format Rules & Examples - How to Enter Name Correctly
Critical Requirement
PAN name must exactly match supporting documents (Aadhaar, passport, birth certificate). Even small differences cause rejection or linking failures. Follow these format rules precisely.
Why PAN Name Format Matters
Application Rejection
Incorrect format triggers automatic rejection during document verification
Aadhaar Linking Failure
Name mismatch prevents PAN-Aadhaar linking - most common failure reason
Bank Account Issues
Banks reject PAN with mismatched name during KYC verification
ITR Filing Problems
Income tax filing gets delayed due to name discrepancies
Official PAN Name Format Rules
Standard Format for Individuals:
Full Name Structure:
[Title] [First Name] [Middle Name] [Surname/Last Name]
Example: Mr. Rajesh Kumar Sharma
Married Women Format:
[Title] [First Name] [Maiden/Middle Name] [Husband's Surname]
Example: Mrs. Priya Sharma Patel (before marriage: Priya Sharma)
Single Name Format:
For individuals with single name: Enter same name in both First Name and Surname fields
Example: If name is "Krishna" → First Name: Krishna, Surname: Krishna
Field-by-Field Entry Guide
1. Title/Prefix Field
Options available:
- • Shri (Mr.) - For adult males
- • Smt. (Mrs.) - For married women
- • Kumari (Ms.) - For unmarried women
- • Dr. - For doctorate holders
- • M/s - For Hindu Undivided Families (HUF)
Rule: Select title matching your document. For minors (under 18), leave blank or select appropriate title.
2. First Name Field
Entry rules:
- • Must exactly match first word of name in supporting document
- • Use capital letters for first letter, lowercase for rest (Rajesh, not RAJESH)
- • No special characters except hyphen (-) for compound names
- • Maximum 25 characters
- • Mandatory field - cannot be left blank
✓ Correct Examples:
Rajesh, Priya, Ram-Gopal
✗ Incorrect Examples:
RAJESH, rajesh, R@jesh
3. Middle Name Field
Entry rules:
- • Optional field - leave blank if no middle name in document
- • Enter father's name if document shows patronymic naming (South India)
- • Maximum 25 characters
- • Use same capitalization rules as first name
- • Can include initials (S. for Suresh, K. for Kumar)
✓ Correct Examples:
Kumar, S., Devi, (blank)
✗ Incorrect Examples:
S (without dot), kumar (lowercase)
4. Surname/Last Name Field
Entry rules:
- • Must match last name/family name in document
- • Mandatory field for most applicants
- • Maximum 25 characters
- • For single-name individuals: repeat first name here
- • Married women: enter husband's surname if name changed
✓ Correct Examples:
Sharma, Patel, Singh, Kumar
✗ Incorrect Examples:
sharma (lowercase), SHARMA (all caps)
Special Cases & Regional Variations
South Indian Naming Convention
Format: [Initial of Father/Village]. [First Name] [Surname (optional)]
How to enter:
- • First Name: Actual given name (e.g., Ramesh)
- • Middle Name: Initial with dot (e.g., S. for father Suresh)
- • Surname: Can be left blank or enter family name
Example: S. Ramesh Kumar → First: Ramesh | Middle: S. | Surname: Kumar
Single Name Holders
Common in: Certain communities, religious figures, stage names
How to enter:
- • First Name: Your single name
- • Middle Name: Leave blank
- • Surname: Repeat your single name
Example: If name is "Krishna" → First: Krishna | Middle: (blank) | Surname: Krishna
Married Women Name Change
Scenario: Name changed after marriage (maiden name to husband's surname)
How to enter:
- • First Name: Your first name (unchanged)
- • Middle Name: Maiden surname (optional)
- • Surname: Husband's surname
Example: Priya Sharma married to Mr. Patel → First: Priya | Middle: Sharma | Surname: Patel
Hyphenated/Compound Names
Format: Names connected by hyphen (Ram-Gopal, Mary-Anne)
How to enter:
- • Keep hyphen intact in appropriate field
- • Capitalize first letter of each part
- • No spaces around hyphen
Example: Ram-Gopal Kumar → First: Ram-Gopal | Middle: (blank) | Surname: Kumar
Common Name Format Mistakes
Using All Capital Letters
❌ Wrong: RAJESH KUMAR SHARMA
✓ Correct: Rajesh Kumar Sharma
Adding Extra Spaces
❌ Wrong: Rajesh Kumar (double space)
✓ Correct: Rajesh Kumar (single space)
Using Nicknames Instead of Legal Name
❌ Wrong: Bobby Sharma (if legal name is Rajesh)
✓ Correct: Rajesh Sharma (match document)
Incorrect Initial Format
❌ Wrong: S (without dot), s., S,
✓ Correct: S. (capital letter with dot)
Mixing Document Name Formats
❌ Wrong: Using Aadhaar format when applying with passport
✓ Correct: Match exact format of supporting document you're submitting
Name Matching Priority Order
When multiple documents have slight name variations, follow this priority:
- 1. Aadhaar Card (highest priority - required for PAN-Aadhaar linking)
- 2. Passport (if applying for business/international purposes)
- 3. Birth Certificate (for minors or if name exactly matches current legal name)
- 4. Marriage Certificate (for married women showing name change)
- 5. Other ID Proofs (voter ID, driving license - use if name exactly matches)
Critical: PAN name MUST match Aadhaar exactly for successful linking. If other documents differ, get Aadhaar corrected first.
Step-by-Step Name Entry Examples
Example 1: Standard North Indian Name
Document shows: Rajesh Kumar Sharma
Title: Shri
First Name: Rajesh
Middle Name: Kumar
Surname: Sharma
Example 2: South Indian with Initial
Document shows: S. Ramesh Kumar
Title: Shri
First Name: Ramesh
Middle Name: S.
Surname: Kumar
Example 3: Married Woman
Document shows: Priya Sharma Patel (married)
Title: Smt.
First Name: Priya
Middle Name: Sharma
Surname: Patel
Example 4: Single Name
Document shows: Krishna (single name)
Title: Shri
First Name: Krishna
Middle Name: (leave blank)
Surname: Krishna
Example 5: Hyphenated Name
Document shows: Ram-Gopal Kumar Singh
Title: Shri
First Name: Ram-Gopal
Middle Name: Kumar
Surname: Singh
Character Restrictions & Allowed Symbols
✓ Allowed Characters
- • A-Z (capital letters)
- • a-z (lowercase letters)
- • Space (single space between words)
- • Hyphen (-) for compound names
- • Period (.) for initials only
✗ Not Allowed
- • Numbers (0-9)
- • Special characters (@, #, $, %, &, *, etc.)
- • Multiple consecutive spaces
- • Leading or trailing spaces
- • Punctuation marks except dot and hyphen
How to Fix Name Format Errors
If Name Was Entered Incorrectly:
Before PAN Allotment:
- • Contact NSDL/UTIITSL immediately with acknowledgment number
- • Request name correction before processing completes
- • May need to submit fresh application if too late
After PAN Allotment:
- • Apply for PAN correction/update
- • Submit supporting documents showing correct name
- • Pay correction fee (₹110 for online, ₹1011 for physical)
- • New PAN card issued with corrected name (15-30 days)
Pre-Application Checklist
Before submitting PAN application, verify:
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use uppercase or lowercase for my name in PAN?
Use proper case: first letter capital, remaining lowercase (e.g., Rajesh, not RAJESH or rajesh). This matches standard document format and prevents system rejections.
My Aadhaar has initials, but passport has full name. Which should I use?
Use Aadhaar format (with initials) for PAN application. PAN-Aadhaar linking is mandatory, so PAN name must match Aadhaar exactly. You can later update passport to match Aadhaar format if needed for international travel.
Can I include my father's name in middle name field?
Yes, this is common in South Indian naming conventions. Enter father's name or initial in middle name field if that's how your supporting document shows. Example: If document shows "S. Ramesh Kumar", enter S. in middle name.
What if my name has spelling variations in different documents?
Use the spelling from Aadhaar card, as PAN-Aadhaar linking is mandatory. Get other documents corrected to match Aadhaar spelling. Submit Aadhaar as primary proof during PAN application to ensure consistency.
Can I use shortened version of my name (like Bob instead of Robert)?
No. Use only the exact legal name shown in your supporting documents. Nicknames, short forms, or variations cause rejection. If your legal name is Robert but you go by Bob, use Robert in PAN application.
Is there a character limit for name fields?
Yes. Each name field (first, middle, surname) has 25-character limit. If your name exceeds this, use abbreviations or initials that match your supporting document. Contact IT helpdesk if you face issues with exceptionally long names.
Related Topics
PAN Application Guide
Complete PAN application process with name entry
PAN Name Mismatch Fix
How to fix PAN-Aadhaar name mismatch issues
PAN Correction Process
Update name in existing PAN card
Form 49A Field Guide
Understanding name fields in Form 49A
Information Accuracy: PAN name format rules based on Income Tax Department guidelines as of February 2026.
Disclaimer: Independent informational resource. Not affiliated with Income Tax Department. Always verify current name format requirements via official NSDL/UTIITSL portals before application.