Form 60 Income Tax: What It Is, Who Needs It, and How to Use It Right
No PAN card — but you need to open a bank account, buy a property, or put money in a fixed deposit? Most people hit a wall here. What they don't know is that there's a legal way out. It's called Form 60, and the Income Tax Department created it specifically for situations like this.
Here's everything you need to know — who qualifies, when to use it, what to fill in, and what to avoid.
Form 60 is a written declaration submitted by an individual who doesn't hold a PAN card but needs to carry out a financial transaction that normally requires one. It acts as an alternative to quoting a PAN, helping the income tax department keep such transactions transparent and compliant.
The form sits under Rule 114B of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 — a rule that makes PAN compulsory for certain high-value dealings. The government put this rule in place to track large cash movements and reduce black money circulation. For those who genuinely don't have a PAN yet, Form 60 is the substitute.
One important boundary: companies and firms cannot use Form 60. Under Rule 114B, companies or firms involved in specified transactions cannot submit Form 60 as an alternative — they must provide their PAN. This form is strictly for individuals, HUFs, trusts, and in limited cases, foreign companies.
You can file Form 60 if:
You cannot file Form 60 if:
The following transactions require PAN to be quoted. If you don't have one, Form 60 must be submitted instead:
Transaction
Threshold
Purchase or sale of any motor vehicle (excluding two-wheelers)
Any value
Opening a Demat account
Opening a bank account (other than basic savings deposit account)
Applying for a debit or credit card
Purchase or sale of immovable property
₹10 lakh or above (as per Stamp Valuation Authority)
Fixed deposit with bank / post office / Nidhi / NBFC
More than ₹50,000 or aggregate more than ₹5 lakh in a financial year
Cash payment to hotels or restaurants
Exceeding ₹50,000 at one time
Payment for foreign travel or foreign currency purchase in cash
Life insurance premium payment
Exceeding ₹50,000 in a year
Purchase or sale of company shares or securities contract
Exceeding ₹1 lakh per transaction
Purchase of Mutual Fund units
Exceeding ₹50,000
Payment to company/institution for debentures or bonds
Payment to RBI for bonds
Cash deposit with bank or post office
Exceeding ₹50,000 in one day OR aggregating more than ₹2.5 lakh during 9 Nov–30 Dec 2016
Purchase of bank drafts / pay orders / banker's cheques in cash
Time deposit with bank / NBFC / Nidhi
Exceeding ₹50,000 or aggregate more than ₹5 lakh in a financial year
Pre-paid payment instruments via cash / draft
Aggregating more than ₹50,000 in a financial year
Sale or purchase of other goods and services
Exceeding ₹2 lakh per transaction
Minors: If a minor enters into any transaction mentioned in Rule 114B and does not have income chargeable to income tax, they will need to quote the PAN of their father, mother, or guardian. If no PAN is available in the family either, Form 60 can be submitted in the parent's or guardian's name on the minor's behalf.
Non-residents: Non-residents are not fully exempt. As per Rule 114B, non-residents are required to quote PAN or file Form 60 only for a limited number of transactions. For remaining transactions like hotel and restaurant payments, getting a debit or credit card, and travel expenses — non-residents are not required to furnish PAN or Form 60.
HUF: Any document in the name of the Karta of the HUF is accepted as identity and address proof.
Joint transactions: If the transaction involves two or more people, the total number of persons involved and the combined transaction amount must be mentioned clearly in the form.
Getting the form is straightforward:
Many banks and financial institutions also keep printed copies of Form 60 at their branches — you can pick one up when you're there for the transaction itself.
The form asks for some specific details. Here's what you'll need to fill in:
One thing to double-check before signing: every detail you fill in must match the supporting documents exactly. A mismatch between the form and your documents will get the form rejected and you'll have to resubmit.
What you need to attach depends on your situation:
If your PAN application is pending — the acknowledgement receipt of your PAN application is enough. No other documents needed.
If you haven't applied for PAN yet — attach any one identity and address proof from this list:
For Trusts: Copy of trust deed or registration certificate from the Charity Commissioner.
For Association of Persons / Body of Individuals / Local Authority: Copy of registration certificate from Charity Commissioner, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, or any other competent authority.
For HUF: Any document in the Karta's name.
If the transaction is in a minor's name, the parent's or guardian's identity and address proof serves as the minor's proof — and the form must be signed by the parent or guardian.
Form 60 goes to whoever you're doing the transaction with — the bank, insurance company, broker, or registrar. Not to the Income Tax Department directly.
You can submit it either offline (in person, printed and signed) or online, depending on whether the institution accepts digital submissions. Many banks now allow online Form 60 submission through their portals or mobile apps.
Before signing the declaration, the declarant should satisfy themselves that all information furnished in the form is true, correct, and complete in all respects.
Form 60 is valid for six years from the end of the financial year in which the transaction took place. After that, a fresh declaration would be needed for any new transaction.
Also worth noting: if you do not have a PAN and the transaction falls under Rule 114B, a fresh Form 60 may be required each time unless the institution specifies otherwise.
This is the part people don't take seriously enough — and they should.
Filing false information in Form 60 is a punishable offence under the Income Tax Act:
The penalties are steep. And the income tax department does cross-check declarations. So fill in exactly what's true — nothing more, nothing less.
Some categories are exempt from the PAN/Form 60 requirement for certain Rule 114B transactions:
If Form 60 has prompted you to finally apply for a PAN, here are the right forms:
A: No. If your total income (other than agricultural income) exceeds the basic exemption limit and you haven't applied for PAN yet, you must apply for PAN first. Only after applying can you use Form 60 for the specified transaction — and you'll need to mention your acknowledgement number and application date in Column 22.
A: Generally yes — if the transaction falls under Rule 114B and you still don't have a PAN, a fresh Form 60 is usually required each time. Some institutions may have their own procedures, so check with them directly.
A: Form 60 stays valid for six years from the end of the financial year in which the transaction was carried out. After that period, a new declaration must be submitted for any further qualifying transaction.
A: No. Companies and LLPs are allotted PAN at the time of incorporation itself, so they are not eligible to use Form 60. The form is strictly for individuals, HUFs, trusts, and in limited cases, foreign companies.
A: Filing false details is taken seriously. If the transaction is below ₹25 lakh, imprisonment of 3 months to 2 years and a fine can be imposed. For transactions above ₹25 lakh, the punishment goes up to 6 months to 7 years imprisonment along with a fine.
A: No. Non-residents only need to quote PAN or submit Form 60 for a limited set of Rule 114B transactions. They are exempt for things like hotel bill payments, foreign travel, and debit/credit card applications.
A: Form 60 is submitted to the person or institution you're transacting with — the bank, broker, insurance company, or registrar. It does not go to the Income Tax Department directly. The receiving institution is responsible for forwarding it.
A: No. If a minor is involved in a transaction requiring PAN, either the PAN of the parent or guardian is quoted, or Form 60 is submitted in the parent's/guardian's name. The parent or guardian must sign the form on the minor's behalf.
A: Yes, most banks accept Form 60 for account opening when the applicant does not have a PAN, provided the required identity and address proof documents are also submitted along with it.
A: If your PAN application is already submitted and allotment is pending, just attach the acknowledgement receipt of your PAN application along with Form 60. You don't need any separate identity or address proof in that case.
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