Know TAN Number Structure – What it signifies

Posted Date : 12-Aug-2012 , 11:58:52 am | Posted By CASANSAAR print

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TAN or Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number is a 10 digit alpha numeric number required to be obtained by all persons who are responsible for deducting or collecting tax. Under Section 203A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, it is mandatory to quote Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) allotted by the Income Tax Department (ITD) on all TDS returns.

Since last few years ITD has revised the structure of TAN. It is a unique 10 digit alphanumeric code. Accordingly, they have issued TAN in this new format to all existing TAN holders.

The correct structure of TAN is as mentioned below:

TAN structure is as follows: AAAA99999A: First four characters are letters, next 5 numerals, last character letter.
Each tax deductor is uniquely identified by his TAN.
If the TAN does not follow the above structure, then the TAN will be shown invalid.
The first three characters represent the city or state where the TAN was issued. In the below table First three letter in TAN ‘BLR’ signifies that city in which TAN issued is Bangalore.
The fourth character of the TAN is the initial letter of the tax deductor. Which Means name of the Tax Deductor starts with this letter.
Next five characters are system generated numeric Numbers.
Last character is Alphabetic Number which is also known as check digit which is also system generated.