If you recently downloaded your e-PAN card and saw a message like “Signature Not Verified”, you are not alone. Many people face this issue when they try to open or use their e-PAN for official purposes. But the good news is, it’s easy to fix!
In this blog, we will explain what this message means, why it happens, and how you can verify your e-PAN signature online.
What is an e-PAN Card?
An e-PAN card is a digitally signed PAN card issued by the Income Tax Department in a PDF format. The e-PAN card contains the same information as you have on your physical card, such as your name, PAN number, date of birth, and signature.
One important benefit of an ePAN Card is that you can get it within minutes if you have applied online using your Aadhaar card. It’s especially useful for e-filing and other online processes where PAN is required.
What Does “e-PAN Signature Not Verified” Mean?
When you download your e-PAN card from the NSDL or UTI portal, the PDF file contains a digital signature issued by the Income Tax Department. If this signature shows as invalid, it usually means your PDF reader (like Adobe Acrobat Reader) doesn’t trust or recognize the digital signature by default.
It doesn’t mean your PAN card is fake or unusable; it simply means the digital certificate used in the signature hasn’t been validated yet on your system.
Why Does This Happen?
Here are the common reasons why the e-PAN signature shows invalid:
- Your PDF viewer doesn’t recognize the digital certificate.
- The trusted root certificate is not installed.
- The signature is not automatically verified on your device.
Luckily, this is a technical issue, and it can be fixed in just a few steps.
How to Fix “e-PAN Signature Not Verified” Error
Follow these steps to verify the signature on your e-PAN card:
Step 1: Open the e-PAN in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader if you don’t already have it.
- Open your e-PAN card PDF using Acrobat Reader.
Step 2: Look for the Signature Panel
- Click on the “Signature Panel” on the right side of the screen.
- You will see a warning or message saying the signature is not verified.
Step 3: Validate the Signature
- Right-click on the signature.
- Click “Validate Signature”.
- A pop-up will appear. Click on “Signature Properties”, then click “Show Signer’s Certificate”.
Step 4: Trust the Certificate
- In the certificate viewer, click on “Trust”.
- Check the box that says “Use this certificate as a trusted root”.
- Click OK, and then Validate Signature again.
Now, your e-PAN signature should show as valid.
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Still Facing Issues? Try Online PAN Verification
If you are not sure whether your PAN is valid or not, you can do an online PAN verification on NSDL. Here’s how:
For Individuals:
- Visit the NSDL PAN Verification page.
- Go to the “Verify PAN” section.
- Enter your PAN number, name, and date of birth.
- Submit to check the PAN status.
This tool helps in e-filing to verify PAN as well. If the record matches, your PAN is valid.
Alternative: Download a Fresh Copy of e-PAN
If your PDF still shows issues even after following the above steps, you can download a fresh copy of your e-PAN card from the official portals.
You can visit either:
- NSDL website for Online PAN verification NSDL: https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com
- Income Tax e-Filing portal for E-filing verify PAN: https://www.incometax.gov.in
Log in with your PAN number, Aadhaar number, or acknowledgement number and download the latest version. Usually, the updated file has a valid digital signature.
Things to Keep in Mind
- If you are facing repeated issues with the e-PAN card signature not verified, make sure your PDF reader is updated to the latest version.
- The digital signature is issued by the Income Tax Department using a certifying authority. Sometimes, the certificate is not recognized because your system doesn’t have that root certificate. Trusting it manually solves the problem.
- Don’t worry if the signature isn’t verified automatically. It’s not a problem with your PAN card itself.
- If you are still unsure, you can verify PAN card details using online tools. This helps confirm that your PAN is active and valid.
How to Verify PAN Card Online
You can use the E-filing verify PAN feature available on the Income Tax Department’s website to check your PAN card details.
Here’s how:
- Go to https://www.incometax.gov.in
- Click on “Verify Your PAN” under Quick Links
- Enter your PAN number, full name, date of birth, and mobile number
- Submit the OTP received on your mobile
This helps ensure that your e-PAN card is active and your details match the records.
When to Use e-PAN and Signature Verification
You’ll need a properly signed e-PAN when:
- Opening a bank account online
- Applying for loans or credit cards
- Doing online KYC
- Filing income tax returns
- Verifying identity on financial or government portals
So it’s important to ensure your e-PAN signature verification online is done correctly if you are using the PDF in any of the above scenarios.
Additional Tips:
- Always use the official portals for downloading your e-PAN card (like NSDL or UTI).
- If you are applying for any financial services, the agency may also verify your PAN card through government APIs.
- If your PDF viewer still doesn’t verify the signature, try updating the software or using a different system.
Conclusion
Seeing an “invalid signature” on your e-PAN card can be confusing, but it’s not a serious issue. It just means the digital signature hasn’t been trusted by your system yet. With a few simple steps, you can fix this and continue using your e-PAN card for all legal and financial purposes.
If you are doing e-filing, verifying PAN, or using it for KYC, make sure your e-PAN signature verification online is complete and the file opens correctly. And remember, tools like Online PAN verification NSDL can help confirm if everything is working properly.
FAQs
Why is my e-PAN card showing signature not verified?
Your e-PAN signature may show as invalid due to an outdated PDF reader, expired digital certificates used during e-PAN issuance, incomplete file download, or if the document was modified after being digitally signed. Sometimes, the signature validation also fails because you’re not using the official verification method recommended by the tax department.
How do I fix my signature not verified?
Update your PDF reader to the latest version and try opening the e-PAN again. If that doesn’t work, download a fresh copy of your e-PAN from the official Income Tax e-filing portal. For persistent issues, request a new e-PAN through the official portal or use the online PAN verification NSDL service to get a properly signed document.
How can I verify my PAN card signature online?
To verify PAN card signature online, visit the official NSDL e-Gov website or the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal. Enter your PAN details in the verification section and follow the prompts to complete the e-filing verify PAN process. The system will authenticate your document and confirm if the digital signature is valid.
How can I add my signature in e-PAN card?
You cannot personally add a signature to your e-PAN card. The digital signature on an e-PAN is applied by the issuing authority (Income Tax Department) to validate its authenticity. If your e-PAN lacks a proper digital signature, you need to request a new e-PAN through the official e-filing portal, where it will be issued with the proper digital signatures already embedded.
