Tax · Free tool
TAN Validator
TAN (Tax Deduction Account Number) is a 10-character ID issued by the Income Tax Department to anyone who deducts TDS. Format: 4 letters + 5 digits + 1 letter.
4 letters + 5 digits + 1 letter (10 chars).
How to read a TAN
The first 3 characters are the city / area code assigned by the NSDL (now Protean) — e.g. BLR = Bangalore, DEL = Delhi, MUM = Mumbai, CHE = Chennai. The 4th character is the first letter of the deductor's name (so BLRA1234Bmight be an Aerospace company in Bangalore). Then come 5 sequential digits, ending with a check letter generated by an internal algorithm.
Worked example
A Bengaluru-based IT company called “Infinion Pvt Ltd” might have TAN BLRI12345C. Validating it: BLR = Bengaluru area, I = first letter of Infinion, 12345 = sequence, C = check digit. If your employer's Form 16 shows a TAN that doesn't match the city of the registered office or starts with the wrong first letter of the company's name, the document may be tampered or the TAN entered incorrectly in payroll.
When to validate a TAN
- Cross-checking Form 16 / 16A issued by your employer or bank
- Verifying a deductor's identity before paying TDS via Form 26QC (rent) or 26QB (property)
- Filing a TDS dispute on the TRACES portal — you need the exact TAN
- Vendor onboarding — verifying TAN is real before disbursing payments with TDS
Quoting an invalid TAN on a TDS return attracts a penalty of ₹10,000 per default under Section 272BB. Read companion TDS on salary — section 192 and pair with the PAN validator for full identity checks.
FAQ
How do I get a TAN?
Apply via Form 49B (online or physical) at TIN-NSDL. Fee is ~₹65. TAN is mandatory for any deductor (employer, business deducting TDS, government) — without a valid TAN you cannot file TDS returns.
Is TAN the same as TDS?
No. TAN identifies the deductor, TDS is the tax. Like PAN identifies you, TAN identifies the entity withholding tax from a payment to you.
Where does the TAN appear?
On every Form 16, Form 16A, Form 26AS row, TDS challan and TDS return. Validate the format before filing — wrong TAN means TDS doesn't flow to your PAN.