TAN Verification 2026 – Check & Verify TAN Number Online Free

TAN Number Verification Tool 2026

Validate TAN format, decode state code & deductor type instantly

Enter TAN Number *

Enter the 10-character TAN number (e.g. MUMR12345A). Letters will auto-convert to uppercase.

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State 1

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State 2

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State 3

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State 4

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Hold 1

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Seq 1

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Seq 2

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Seq 3

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Seq 4

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Seq 5

Chars 1–4State Code Char 5Holder Type Chars 6–10Unique Number

Quick Examples:

Verify TAN on NSDL Official Portal

For official TAN verification NSDL 2026 and complete deductor details, visit the Income Tax Department's NSDL portal. Our tool validates TAN format — for live database lookup, use the official link below.

NSDL TAN Search Portal Income Tax Portal

NSDL TAN search allows TAN number search by name (deductor name) and by TAN number for complete deductor verification.

TAN Number Format Guide

CHARS 1-4

ABCD

State Code (Letters)

CHAR 5

Holder Type

CHARS 6-10

12345

+ Check Letter

MUM R 12345 A

StateTypeSequenceCheck

Total Length	10 characters
Characters 1-4	Letters – NSDL State Code
Character 5	Letter – Holder Category
Characters 6-9	Numbers – Unique Sequence
Character 10	Letter – Check Character
Example	MUMR12345A

TAN State Codes Reference

State Code	State / City
AHMD	Ahmedabad
BANS	Bangalore / Karnataka
BANC	Bangalore (Corp.)
BHOPL	Bhopal
CHEN	Chennai
COCH	Cochin / Kochi
DELP	Delhi
DELF	Delhi (Foreign)
GUWH	Guwahati
HYDD	Hyderabad
JAIP	Jaipur / Rajasthan
JAMM	Jammu
KOLP	Kolkata
LUCK	Lucknow / UP
MUMR	Mumbai (Resident)
MUMF	Mumbai (Foreign)
NAGS	Nagpur
PNOR	Pune
PATN	Patna / Bihar
RPUR	Raipur / Chhattisgarh

First 3-4 letters of TAN = Assessing Officer (AO) / City code

Need TAN Registration?

Every entity that deducts TDS must have a TAN. Our experts handle TAN registration, Form 49B filing, TDS return filing, and compliance — end to end.

Apply for TAN Registration TDS Return Filing Service

Understanding TAN Number

Key facts every deductor and employer must know about the Tax Deduction Account Number

TAN Number Explained

TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) is a 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by NSDL to entities required to deduct or collect tax at source under the Income Tax Act 1961.

Mandatory Under Sec 203A

Section 203A of the Income Tax Act makes TAN compulsory for all TDS/TCS deductors. Failure to quote TAN in TDS returns, challans, or certificates attracts a penalty of ₹10,000.

Who Needs TAN?

Every employer deducting TDS on salary, company deducting TDS on payments, buyers deducting TDS on property purchase above ₹50 lakh, and banks deducting TDS on FD interest above ₹40,000.

TAN vs PAN

TAN is for entities that deduct tax (TDS). PAN is for all taxpayers for income identification. Both have 10 characters but different formats. An entity can have both TAN and PAN simultaneously.

📝 Complete Guide

TAN Verification – Complete Guide 2026

Everything you need to know about TAN number, verification, format, NSDL lookup, and TAN vs PAN differences

What is TAN?

What is TAN Number? – Tax Deduction Account Number Explained

TAN, or Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number, is a unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) on behalf of the Income Tax Department to every entity that is required to deduct or collect tax at source. If you are an employer paying salaries, a company making payments to contractors, or a buyer purchasing immovable property above ₹50 lakh — you need a TAN.

Understanding what is TAN number and how to do TAN verification is crucial for tax compliance. Every TDS return, TDS payment challan, Form 16, Form 16A, and any TDS certificate must mandatorily quote the deductor's TAN. Failure to do so or using an incorrect TAN in any of these documents attracts a penalty of ₹10,000 under Section 272BB of the Income Tax Act.

The TAN number India ecosystem is managed by NSDL (now Protean eGov Technologies) under the supervision of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). All TAN applications, modifications, and TAN verification NSDL 2026 queries are processed through this infrastructure.

              
              Quick Tip: Use the TAN number check tool above to instantly validate your TAN format before filing a TDS return. An incorrect TAN format will cause your TDS return to be rejected by TRACES/NSDL. Our tool catches format errors immediately.
            

TAN At a Glance

10 Chars

Alphanumeric Format

Issued ByNSDL / CBDT

Mandatory UnderSection 203A

FormatAAAA9NNNN#

Non-Compliance Penalty₹10,000

TAN Format

TAN Number Format – How to Read and Verify Each Character

The TAN number format is a structured 10-character code where each section carries specific information about the deductor and their jurisdiction. Understanding this structure is key to effective TAN number verification and immediately spotting invalid TANs.

Here is the complete breakdown of the tax deduction account number check format:

Characters 1–4 (State/City Code): Four alphabetic characters representing the Assessing Officer's city or state jurisdiction. For example, MUM = Mumbai, DEL = Delhi, BAN = Bangalore, CHE = Chennai, KOL = Kolkata. This is the TAN lookup identifier for the jurisdiction.
Character 5 (Holder Type): A single letter representing the category of the TAN holder — typically the first letter of the deductor's name or entity type.
Characters 6–9 (Unique Sequence): Four digits forming a unique sequential number assigned by NSDL to the deductor within their jurisdiction.
Character 10 (Check Character): A single alphabetic character that serves as a check digit to validate the TAN number's authenticity.

              
              Format Validation Rule: A valid TAN must be exactly 10 characters with the pattern: 4 letters + 1 letter + 4 digits + 1 letter. Any TAN that doesn't follow this pattern (AAAA-A-NNNN-A) is invalid. Our verify TAN number tool above checks this instantly.
            

TAN Decoded – MUMR12345A

Full TANMUMR12345A

Chars 1-4: MUMMumbai Jurisdiction

Char 5: RHolder Category "R"

Chars 6-9: 1234Unique Sequence

Char 10: 5A → ACheck Character

Format Valid?✅ Yes

TAN Number Format Pattern

AAAA A NNNN A

A = Alphabet (Letter) | N = Number (Digit)

Verification Methods

How to Verify TAN Number Online – 4 Official Methods

There are multiple ways to perform TAN number verification in India. The official TAN verification NSDL 2026 process is the most comprehensive, but our format checker above gives you instant validation. Here are all four methods for how to verify TAN:

LegalDev TAN Format Validator (Instant — This Page)

Use the tool above for instant TAN number check. Enter the TAN, get immediate format validation, state code identification, and structure breakdown. Best for quick format verification before filing TDS returns.

NSDL TAN Verification Portal (Full Database Lookup)

Visit tin.tin.nsdl.com/tan for official TAN search online. You can do TAN number search by name (deductor name) or by TAN number itself. This gives you complete TAN number details including deductor name, address, and category. This is the official TAN lookup for deductor verification.

Income Tax e-Filing Portal (TRACES)

Log in to incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in and use the TDS section for TAN deductor verification. TRACES (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System) shows complete TAN status check including linked TDS filings and compliance history.

Physical TAN Certificate Check

Check the original TAN certificate issued by NSDL after TAN registration. The TAN certificate check shows the TAN number, deductor name, address, and jurisdiction. If you've lost the certificate, download it from the NSDL portal using your acknowledgment number.

TAN Search Online – Step by Step

Step 1Go to tin.tin.nsdl.com

Step 2Click "TAN Search"

Step 3Select Search by Name or TAN

Step 4Enter details + Captcha

Step 5View TAN number details

Result ShowsName, AO, TAN status

TAN Registration Check

You can check TAN registration check status by entering your Form 49B acknowledgment number on the NSDL portal within 5 days of application. TAN is typically allotted within 5–7 working days.

TAN vs PAN

TAN vs PAN – Key Differences Every Taxpayer Must Know

The confusion between TAN vs PAN is extremely common among taxpayers. Both are 10-character identifiers issued by the Income Tax Department, but they serve entirely different purposes and are mandatory for different types of entities. Understanding the difference is critical for correct tax compliance.

Aspect	TAN	PAN
Full Form	Tax Deduction & Collection Account No.	Permanent Account Number
Purpose	For deducting/collecting TDS/TCS	For identifying taxpayers
Who Needs It	Employers, companies, govt. entities	All taxpayers — individual & corporate
Format	4 letters + 1 letter + 4 digits + 1 letter	5 letters + 4 digits + 1 letter
Example	MUMR12345A	ABCDE1234F
Issued By	NSDL (Form 49B)	NSDL/UTIITSL (Form 49A)
Penalty (non-compliance)	₹10,000 (Sec 272BB)	₹10,000 (Sec 272B)
Used In	TDS returns, Form 16, challans	ITR, financial transactions, KYC

TAN Number India – Key Uses

TDS/TCS return filing (quarterly)
TDS payment challans (Form 281)
Issue of Form 16 / Form 16A
Communication with TRACES
Quoting in all TDS certificates

Who Does NOT Need TAN?

Individuals deducting TDS on property sale (they use PAN directly via Form 26QB)
Individuals/HUF not subject to audit (for most salary/rent TDS)
Persons filing ITR without any TDS obligation

TAN Registration

How to Apply for TAN – TAN Registration Process

If your TAN registration check shows no TAN registered, you need to apply for one immediately before making any TDS deductions. Here is the complete process:

Form 49B: The application form for TAN allotment — available on NSDL website or through authorised facilitators like LegalDev
Online Application: Apply at tin.tin.nsdl.com — submit Form 49B online and pay the processing fee (₹65 + taxes)
Documents Required: No documents are required for the online TAN application — only entity details (name, address, PAN, AO code) needed
Processing Time: TAN is typically allotted within 5–7 working days. You can track the TAN status check using the acknowledgment number
TAN Certificate: After allotment, the official TAN certificate is sent by post. You can also download it from the NSDL portal

Common TAN Errors

Common TAN Errors & How to Fix Them

These are the most common errors flagged during TAN number verification and TDS filing — and how to resolve each one:

Invalid TAN Format: TAN entered doesn't match the 4-letter + 1-letter + 4-digit + 1-letter pattern. Re-check the TAN number format using our validator above.
TAN Not Found in NSDL Database: Possible if TAN was applied for but not yet allotted, or an incorrect TAN was entered. Do a fresh TAN lookup on NSDL portal.
Mismatch Between TAN and PAN: TRACES may flag a TAN-PAN mismatch. Cross-verify both on the IT portal.
Using Wrong TAN for Different Branch: Each branch/division of an organisation can have a separate TAN. Ensure you are using the correct TAN for the right location.
TAN Not Linked to TDS Challans: Ensure all TDS payment challans are linked to the correct TAN — unlinked challans cause mismatches in Form 26AS.

Quick Reference

TAN Number Search by Name – State Code Reference 2026

When doing a TAN number search by name on the NSDL portal, you need to select the correct state/city jurisdiction. The first 3–4 characters of any TAN identify the jurisdiction. Use the table below alongside our TAN search online tool for quick lookups:

City / State	TAN Prefix	AO Code Range	Common TAN Example
Mumbai	MUM	MUMR, MUMF, MUMW	MUMR12345A
Delhi	DEL	DELP, DELF, DELS	DELP98765B
Bangalore	BAN	BANS, BANC, BANR	BANC11223C
Chennai	CHE	CHEN, CHEF, CHES	CHEN45678D
Hyderabad	HYD	HYDD, HYDP, HYDG	HYDD33344E
Kolkata	KOL	KOLP, KOLC, KOLR	KOLP55566F
Pune	PNO	PNOR, PNOP, PNOM	PNOR77788G
Ahmedabad	AHM	AHMD, AHMR, AHMS	AHMD99900H

          
          For complete TAN deductor verification including deductor name, full address, and compliance status — always use the official NSDL TAN portal or Income Tax TRACES portal. Our tool above handles instant TAN number check for format validation and state code decoding.
        

Frequently Asked Questions

Complete guide on TAN number verification, format & compliance

TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) is a 10-character alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department. It is mandatory for entities responsible for deducting or collecting tax at source (TDS/TCS).

Employers deducting TDS on salary, companies making contractor payments, and buyers deducting TDS on property transactions above ₹50 lakh must obtain a TAN.

As per Section 203A of the Income Tax Act, TAN must be quoted in all TDS returns, challans, and certificates like Form 16.

The TAN number format consists of 10 characters:

Format: 4 Letters + 1 Letter + 4 Digits + 1 Letter

Example: DELA12345B

- First 4 letters: Area/jurisdiction code - 5th letter: Deductor category - Next 4 digits: Unique number - Last letter: Check character

You can verify TAN number online using two methods:

1. Instant Tool: Use a TAN validator tool for quick format check. 2. Official Portal: Visit NSDL website and search using TAN or deductor name.

The official portal provides complete details including name, category, and jurisdiction.

TAN vs PAN:

- TAN: Used for TDS/TCS deduction by businesses and employers - PAN: Used for income tax identification of individuals and companies

Both are 10-character alphanumeric codes but serve completely different purposes in taxation.

After applying for TAN using Form 49B, you can check status online:

- Visit NSDL portal - Enter 14-digit acknowledgment number - View current application status

TAN is usually allotted within 5–7 working days.

Under Section 272BB of the Income Tax Act:

- Failure to obtain TAN - Quoting incorrect TAN

results in a penalty of ₹10,000. Additionally, TDS returns without valid TAN are rejected.

To search TAN by name:

- Visit NSDL TAN search page - Select "Name" option - Enter deductor name and state - Submit to view results

You will get complete TAN details including deductor category and AO information.