PAN Format Checker

Check a PAN's format and see what its 4th character says about the holder: individual, company, HUF, firm or trust.

Result
—
Holder type (4th character)—
5th character: first letter of surname or name—

How to use the PAN Format Checker

  1. Type the PAN.
  2. Read the format result and holder type.
  3. Use the e-filing portal to confirm the PAN is active.

About this tool

A PAN follows a fixed pattern; the fourth letter encodes the type of holder. Checking it catches typos on invoices, rent receipts and TDS forms.

Worked example

With pan (10 characters) of ABCPE1234F:

ResultValid format
Holder type (4th character)Individual
5th character: first letter of surname or nameE

Format only. Use the Income Tax e-filing portal's 'Verify your PAN' service to confirm it exists and is active.

Built and reviewed by Savitar Finance (savitarfinance@gmail.com). Rules and rates last checked October 2026. How we calculate · Report a problem

Questions people ask

What does the 4th letter of a PAN mean?

The type of holder: P individual, C company, H HUF, F firm or LLP, A association of persons, T trust, G government, and so on.

Can this tell me whose PAN it is?

No. It checks format only. Name verification is available on the Income Tax e-filing portal.