New PAN Rules from April 1: 10 Key Changes in Property, Cash & Transactions Explained

Starting April 1, 2026, India will implement significant changes to PAN (Permanent Account Number) rules aimed at improving financial transparency and compliance. One of the biggest shifts is the discontinuation of Aadhaar-only PAN applications, requiring additional documents such as proof of date of birth and stricter identity verification, with names needing to match Aadhaar records exactly. The government has also revised thresholds for mandatory PAN usage across key transactions—property deals now require PAN above ₹20 lakh (up from ₹10 lakh), hotel and restaurant cash payments above ₹1 lakh (previously ₹50,000), and vehicle purchases above ₹5 lakh. Additionally, PAN will be required for cash deposits and withdrawals once they exceed ₹10 lakh annually, replacing earlier fragmented limits. New PAN application forms will be introduced, and older forms will no longer be accepted. These changes are part of a broader effort to streamline tax compliance, reduce fraud, and track high-value financial activities more effectively, while also easing requirements for smaller transactions by raising reporting thresholds.