India TAN validator
How the TAN format works
- Format
- 10 characters: 4 letters + 5 digits + 1 letter
- Example
- MUMA12345B
Things to watch for
- The first 3 letters are the jurisdiction code of the city where the TAN was allotted, and the 4th is usually the first letter of the deductor's name
- A TAN is held by whoever deducts or collects tax at source (TDS/TCS) and is a different number from a PAN — the two aren't interchangeable
- Format-only check — there is no public check character, so a pass doesn't confirm the TAN was allotted
^[A-Z]{4}[0-9]{5}[A-Z]$A TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) is the 10-character number India’s Income Tax Department allots to anyone who deducts or collects tax at source — for example MUMA12345B. It identifies whoever withholds tax on someone else’s behalf — an employer deducting TDS from salaries, say, or a business deducting it from a contractor’s invoice. This page is for payroll teams, accountants and anyone preparing TDS or TCS paperwork.
TAN vs PAN at a glance
| TAN | PAN | |
|---|---|---|
| Identifies | A deductor or collector of tax | A taxpayer |
| Pattern | 4 letters, 5 digits, 1 letter | 5 letters, 4 digits, 1 letter |
| 4th character | Usually the first letter of the deductor’s name | The holder type, such as P or C |
| Typically quoted on | TDS/TCS returns, challans, TDS certificates | Tax returns, bank and KYC forms |
What the letters tell you
The opening three letters are the code of the city where the TAN was allotted — MUM for Mumbai, DEL for Delhi. Because the number is tied to the deducting entity and its location, an organisation with several branches that each deduct tax can hold more than one TAN.
Where a wrong TAN causes trouble
The TAN is the key that links a deductor’s challans, quarterly TDS/TCS returns and the certificates issued to payees. A transposed letter or digit on any of those can stop them matching up — exactly the kind of slip worth catching before you submit. Not every deduction needs one, though: TDS on a property purchase, for instance, is reported against the buyer’s PAN without a TAN.
What this validator checks
It removes spaces, uppercases the input, and confirms four letters, five digits and one letter, all in your browser. It doesn’t confirm the city code is genuine, that the fourth letter matches the deductor’s name, or that the final letter is correct, because no check character has been published.
Scope: this page and tool cover TAN format validation only — not allotment status, the deductor’s name, or TDS/TCS compliance.
Content last reviewed 2026-10-11.
TAN FAQ
Who needs a TAN in India?
Anyone required to deduct tax at source (TDS) or collect tax at source (TCS) under India's Income-tax Act — typically employers running payroll and businesses paying contractors, rent or professional fees. The TAN has to be quoted on TDS/TCS returns, tax payment challans and the TDS certificates given to payees.
Is a TAN the same as a PAN?
No. A PAN identifies a taxpayer; a TAN identifies someone in their role as a deductor or collector of tax. A company usually holds both, and one can't be used in place of the other on a TDS return. They also look different: a PAN is 5 letters, 4 digits and a letter, while a TAN is 4 letters, 5 digits and a letter.
Does this tool verify the last letter of a TAN?
No. The closing letter isn't backed by any publicly documented check formula, so this tool doesn't try to recompute it — it only confirms the 4-letter, 5-digit, 1-letter pattern. To confirm a TAN was actually allotted and whose it is, use the Income Tax Department's e-Filing portal.