When a person dies, we grieve. We arrange rituals. We inform relatives. But rarely do we think of their documents and we should. The individual’s PAN and Aadhaar cards never expire. They linger, valid, vulnerable, and often untouched. If ignored, these IDs can become weapons in the wrong hands.
Imagine a fraudster opening a loan account using the name of someone who has already passed away. It’s not far-fetched, it happens. That’s why cancelling a PAN and locking Aadhaar’s biometrics isn’t a formality. It’s protection.
How to Cancel PAN Card After Someone’s Death
PAN cards don’t just expire after death. They stay valid. That’s dangerous.
Let’s start with the offline method, which is direct but requires a little legwork:
Draft a formal letter addressed to the local Income Tax Assessing Officer (AO).
State the deceased’s full name, PAN number, date of death, and the reason for cancellation.
Mention your relation – daughter, spouse, sibling and attach the death certificate, plus your ID proof.
You can find your AO’s details easily on the Income Tax portal.
Now, if you prefer a digital route (though it’s not fully online), here’s the semi-digital way:
Visit NSDL’s official portal.
Go to PAN correction and complete Form 49A.
Select the option to cancel PAN. Upload supporting documents digitally.
Then, visit a nearby NSDL PAN center with hard copies for final verification.
Important note: PAN cancellation isn’t instant. It’s a process. Track it and keep follow-ups.
No Aadhaar Cancellation Yet, But You Can Lock It
Here’s where it gets trickier. UIDAI doesn’t allow Aadhaar deletion post-mortem — not yet. But you can shut down its most sensitive feature: biometric access.
Locking biometrics secures against identity-based fraud by rendering ineffective fingerprints and iris scans associated with Aadhaar.
Via SMS (if your enrolled mobile number is active):
1. “GETOTP ” should be sent to 1947.
2. Receive OTP.
3. Send: LOCKUID <last 4 digits of Aadhaar> <OTP> to 1947 again.
Via Web:
Head to uidai.gov.in.
Click: My Aadhaar → Lock/Unlock Biometrics.
Punch in the Aadhaar number. Verify with OTP.
Click “Lock Biometrics.” Done.
Why It Matters
Leaving PAN and Aadhaar open after death is like leaving your front door unlocked. In the digital world, that’s asking for trouble. Lock it. Cancel it. Secure their digital footprint, not just out of duty, but out of love.
