Know Your Pan Jurisdiction

Every PAN card holder is linked to the Assessing Officer via a 10-digit code that is entered into the PAN database. This code denotes the PAN jurisdiction, circle or ward, in-charge Commissioner, etc. PAN jurisdiction may be accessed from the official Income Tax Department website.

It is essential to know your PAN jurisdiction since it will give you detailed information on your Commissioner’s charge, the Joint Commissioner’s range, the Chief Commissioner’s area, and the Assessing Officer’s designation and location. It also makes it easy to modify or relocate one’s permanent address and verify the status of one’s PAN card. 

Why is Pan Jurisdiction Details Important?

Jurisdictional details reduce the possibility of inadvertent mix-ups. Here are a few reasons why pan-jurisdiction details are important:

• Knowing these data makes it easier for the Income Tax Department to contact you about relevant topics. They utilize the address provided by you together with your Jurisdictional Details to notify you regarding any topic.
• Jurisdictional information is required for the e-filing of the income tax return.
• Jurisdictional information may be requested while applying for a PAN.

In situations when there is a disagreement involving a specific jurisdiction, the Income Tax department appoints a jurisdictional officer to decide the issue.

Know Your PAN Jurisdiction and AO

You can get your PAN jurisdiction and AO data through the Income Tax site. The methods below demonstrate how to obtain your jurisdiction and AO:

Step 1: Go to the Income Tax Department’s official website and navigate to the ‘Know Your Jurisdictional AO’ area.

Step 2: Enter your PAN and cellphone number and press the submit button.

Step 3: You will then get a one-time password through text message to your registered cellphone number. Fill out the form on the website. You’ll get three trials if you input the correct OTP.

Step 4: You’ll get the jurisdiction information for the associated PAN. You will receive your PAN card status, name, area code, AO type, Range code, AO number, jurisdiction, building, the name of the income tax ward office, email ID of the income tax award office, and the name, area code, AO type, Range code, AO number.

The procedure for checking your PAN jurisdiction and AO Code by logging in to the portal is described on our AO Codes page.

Who is an Assessing Officer?

An assessing officer (AO) is a person who has the authority to assess income tax returns that have been filed. If the AO discovers a difference in the filed returns, he may send a notice to the taxpayer requesting an explanation. Assessing officers come from all across the nation to work for the jurisdiction to which they are assigned.

How is an AO Assigned?

Assessing Officers are not allocated to you based on your personal information. They are allotted to you depending on your income tax ward or circle. Your IT ward/circle is decided by your geographic location as well as whether you are an individual, a non-individual, or an Indian citizen/NRI.

These wards and circles are designed to make it easier and more efficient for the Income Tax department to evaluate taxpayers, collect taxes, investigate inconsistencies, issue refunds, and handle complaints. The Assessing Officer for your ward may have any of the following titles:

• Income Tax Officer
• Deputy Commissioner
• Assistant Commissioner
• Additional Commissioner
• Joint Commissioner

How to Know Your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer?

Follow the procedures below to determine the Assessing Officer within whose authority income tax returns fall.

Method 1

Step 1: To view the income tax ward or circle, the applicant must go to the front page of the income tax filing website.

Step 2: Sign in to your e-filing tax account using your PAN and registered cellphone number.

Step 3: After successfully entering the information, click the “Submit” button to get a “One Time Password” (OTP) on the registered cellphone number.

Step 4: To display your jurisdiction, enter the OTP and confirm the procedure.

Step 5: The applicant will now be sent to a website titled “Know Your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (AO)”, where they may verify their area code, AO type, Range Code, AO number, jurisdiction’s location, and email ID.

Method 2

Step 1: Return to the same portal and sign in using your e-filing tax account by providing your PAN, password, and captcha code.

Step 2: After logging into the portal, go to the “Profile Settings” page and pick the “My profile” option to discover your contact information. Then, select the “PAN Details” option.

Step 3: After clicking the PAN details page, you will be able to examine the “Jurisdiction Details” as well as your income tax ward or circle.

Reasons to Know Your PAN Jurisdiction AO

The Assessing Officer is responsible for a variety of tasks. Therefore, it is essential to know your PAN jurisdictional assessing officer-

• Obtaining your PAN Card.
• Assessing your income and estimating your tax liability.
• Providing solutions to taxpayer problems in their jurisdiction.
• Making certain that taxes are collected.
• Assessing your Income Tax Returns (ITR).
• Tax refunds are issued.
• If there is a mismatch in the ITRs, notices will be sent.

The AO also has the authority to impose or waive penalties. Each Income Tax ward or circle is assigned one or more AOs. Knowing your PAN jurisdiction and AO is helpful when you wish to visit them in person or send a letter instead of an email.

You may want to contact the AO to discuss a notice that was received by you, to clarify the notice, to lodge a dispute about a notice, or to make a complaint about any aspect of the Income Tax process.

Changes in PAN Jurisdiction

Individuals can change their PAN jurisdiction in the following circumstances:

• When relocating or altering one’s permanent address.

• When a person is dissatisfied with the Assessing Officer of a jurisdiction area due to unprofessional behaviour or conduct.