Guide ·
Passwords for income tax PDFs: Form 26AS, Form 16, AIS, ITR-V and e-PAN
Most PDFs from the Income Tax Department, TRACES and the PAN agencies are password-protected, and each uses its own format built from your PAN, date of birth or a TAN. Here's each one, and whether the official websites document it. Once you know the password, any PDF reader opens the file, and Unlock PDF saves a copy without it.
Step by step
- 01
Find your document below
Build the password from your own PAN, date of birth or TAN, in the format shown.
- 02
Open Unlock PDF and add the file
Drop the protected PDF. You'll be asked for its password.
- 03
Enter the password and download
Download a copy that opens without a password, for example to combine your tax documents into one file.
Form 26AS
Your date of birth as recorded on your PAN, written DDMMYYYY. Born 1 February 1980: 01021980. The same password opens the PDF and the text version. Source: TRACES FAQ on Form 26AS.
Form 16 and Form 16A
- Files your employer or deductor downloads from TRACES: the deductor's TAN in capital letters, such as AAAA11111A. The TAN is printed on the form.
- The copy your employer emails you may use a password the employer chose. The email usually explains it; if not, ask your payroll team.
Source: TRACES password formats.
Form 16B, 16C, 16D and 16E
These are the TDS certificates for buying property, paying rent, paying contractors and transferring crypto assets. The password is the date of birth of the buyer, tenant or payer, as on their PAN, written DDMMYYYY: 01021980 for 1 February 1980. Source: the same TRACES password guide.
AIS, TIS and the ITR-V acknowledgement
The e-filing portal's help pages don't state these passwords. The format widely reported for them is your PAN in lower case followed by your date of birth as DDMMYYYY: PAN ABCDE1234F, born 7 August 1990, gives abcde1234f07081990. It's the same pattern TRACES documents for the intimations it emails to taxpayers. For a company or firm, use the date of incorporation or formation instead of the date of birth.
e-PAN
- e-PAN from Protean (NSDL): your date of birth as DDMMYYYY, such as 15031990. Source: Protean.
- e-PAN from UTIITSL: the date of birth, or date of incorporation, given in your PAN application, as DDMMYYYY.
If a password doesn't work
- Write dates with leading zeros: 07081990, not 781990.
- Check capitals: the PAN is in lower case for AIS, ITR-V and emailed intimations; a TAN is in capitals.
- Use the date of birth recorded on your PAN, which can differ from other documents.
- Read the email the file came with. Senders often state the format.
Keep tax documents private
Tax documents carry your PAN, income and bank details. Store unlocked copies somewhere private, or add your own password with Protect PDF before sending them to your accountant. You can delete the uploads from your PocketPDF Documents as soon as you've saved your copy.
Official sources checked on 28 October 2026. Formats can change, so if one here stops working, tell us at hi@pocketpdf.in.
Questions
- Can I combine my Form 16, Form 26AS and AIS into one PDF?
- Yes. Unlock each one, then combine the copies with Merge PDF in the order you want.
- Is the PAN typed in capitals or lower case?
- It depends on the document. AIS, ITR-V and emailed TRACES intimations use the PAN in lower case; Form 16 and 16A from TRACES use the deductor's TAN in capitals.