Income tax department has de-activating PAN of all income tax assesses who were allotted more than one PAN at any time in the past. This has resulted in wrong deactivation also. For example, Mr. X was using PAN with ABCPA1111O whereas there was another PAN ABCPA5555O also. Assessee was not aware of the second PAN. However, the department on getting to know the information of the assessee in both the PAN cancelled the first PAN instead of the second one. It may be noted that once the PAN is deactivated by the income tax department, the income tax e-filing login of the assessee also gets blocked and such PAN holder is barred from login and other activities at the Income Tax e-filing portal.

Now, the question arises, how can an assessee reactivate his first PAN? It may be noted that PAN in such cases can be reactivated by following the below referred procedure:

1. Such Assessee can write a letter incorporating all the facts of the case to the jurisdictional AO with a request for activation of your PAN.
2. Along with the request letter, following documents should be attached:
   a) Copy of PAN on which the PAN holder is regularly filing the Income Tax Return.
   b) Copies of last 2 years Income Tax Returns filed on the PAN which is proposed to be re-activated.
   c) Indemnity Bond in favour of the Income Tax Department

After above submission, normally the AO activates the PAN in around 15 to 30 days time frame.