My wife and I have been carrying our PAN cards for the last 35 years. Should we replace them now?

financialexpress.com:

Delhi residents, Jag Mohan Soni and his wife, are still carrying PAN cards that were made 35 years back. Due to wear and tear over the last three decades, signatures on their PAN cards do not appear clearly, especially in photocopies. In an email sent to FE Money, Jag Mohan says he thinks they can continue having their old cards. However, he is wondering whether it is necessary or mandatory by law to replace an old PAN card with a new one.

FE Money talked to four tax and legal experts to explain what the rules say regarding old PAN cards and what taxpayers like Jag Mohan should do if they want to replace their old cards.

All four experts said it is not mandatory to replace an old PAN card as the Permanent Account Number (PAN) remains valid throughout the lifetime of a taxpayer unless it is cancelled or surrendered. Read on to know more of what the experts said:

There is no specific mandate to replace old and worn-out PAN cards. That said, while the PAN card is primarily for tax purposes, it is also often used as a form of identification. Having a PAN card in a legible and good condition can prevent any inconvenience when presenting it for identification or verification purposes. Individuals like Jag Mohan can obtain a copy of their electronic PAN (ePAN) from the NSDL PAN portal. New physical copies of the PAN card can also be requested, for a fee, on the same portal.

Replacing PAN cards due to wear and tear is not mandatory as PAN cards are valid for a lifetime. However, if the card has become illegible or damaged to the point of being unusable, individuals can apply for a duplicate PAN card online or by submitting a physical application form, following the official guidelines from the Income Tax Department of India. It