In a move to ease process, Union Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman announced during Union Budget 2019 that taxpayer who does not havePermanent Account Number (PAN) can use their Aadhaar card to file their IncomeTax Return.

While presenting her maiden budget in Parliament, theFinance Minister said, “I propose to make PAN and Aadhaar interchangeable forfiling Income Tax Returns.” The Finance Minister said that Aadhaar can usedinstead of PAN card whenever need be. She said, “More than 120 crore Indiansnow have Aadhar card. Therefore for ease of taxpayers, I propose to make PANcard and Aadhaar card interchangeable and allow those who don't have PAN tofile returns by simply quoting Aadhaar number and use it wherever they requireto use PAN.”India’s first full-time women Finance Minister also announced thatAadhaar cards would be issued to Non Resident Indians (NRIs), who hold anIndian passport, upon arrival in the country. She announced that the NRIs wouldnot have to wait for the mandatory 180 days.

According to the Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI), a resident who has resided in India for a period or periods amountingin all to 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately preceding the date ofapplication for enrolment is eligible for Aadhaar. This is in accordance withthe Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits andServices) Act, 2016.

Apart from these, the Union Finance Minister also broughtgood news for middle class homebuyers by announcing relaxation on loans up toRs 45 lakh for purchase of affordable house.