A PAN card is a 10-digit alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department of India to individuals and entities. It is a unique identification number for all financial transactions in India.

• Digital PAN card: It is a soft copy of the PAN card that is generated and stored electronically. It can be downloaded from the website of the Income Tax Department or the PAN issuing agencies.
• Physical PAN card: It is a hard copy of the PAN card that is printed on paper. It is sent by the PAN issuing agencies to the applicant’s address.

Both digital and physical PAN cards are valid proofs of PAN. However, the physical PAN card is more widely accepted as a proof of identity and address.