A Permanent Account Number (PAN) contains ten characters. This unique identifier, issued by the Income Tax Department of India, is an alphanumeric code designed to track financial and tax-related transactions. The 10 characters are always structured as five alphabetic letters, followed by four numerical digits, and ending with one final alphabetic letter. For example, in the format ABCDE1234F:
- The fourth letter specifies the holder's status (e.g., 'P' for an Individual).
- The fifth letter is the first character of the holder's surname or organization name.
This unique code is essential for various financial activities in India.