How to redact a PAN card copy
PAN card copies get asked for everywhere, and a full copy can be misused. Sometimes the reader needs your PAN; often they only need proof of your name. Here's how to share only what's needed.
Open the redaction tool Free, no account. The file stays on your device.Quick steps
- Open maskyourdocs and choose the PAN card photo, scan or e-PAN PDF.
- Choose Draw box and drag over each detail to hide.
- Don't forget the signature and the QR code.
- Press Export, then Generate, then Download.
When you can and can't hide your PAN
If someone is doing KYC, filing tax for you or deducting TDS, they need your full PAN. Redacting it will just get the copy rejected.
If they only need to see your name, or you're sharing the card with an AI tool or posting it anywhere, hide the PAN and everything else they don't need. If the reader has to match the card to a record, you can keep the last 4 characters and hide the rest.
What's on a PAN card
- PAN: 10 characters, five letters, four digits and a letter.
- Your name and father's name.
- Date of birth.
- Photo and signature.
- QR code on newer cards. It encodes the card's details, so hide it whenever you hide anything else.
Step by step
Step 1: Open the copy
Go to maskyourdocs and press Choose a file. Pick a photo, a scan or the e-PAN PDF. e-PAN PDFs are usually password-protected. The password is your date of birth as DDMMYYYY with no spaces, so 7 April 1992 is 07041992; for a company or firm, it's the date of incorporation. If the PDF asks for a password, enter it. The redacted copy you download has no password.
Step 2: Cover each detail
Choose Draw box and drag over each detail to hide. On a phone or tablet, rest a finger on the spot until a ring appears, then drag. A quick swipe still scrolls, and two fingers pinch to zoom. Cover a little more than the text itself; a sliver of a character is enough to give a digit away.
Step 3: Keep part of the PAN, if needed
To keep the last 4 characters, draw the box over the first 6 only. In an e-PAN PDF with searchable text, you can instead type the first 6 characters into Find text and press Mask all.
Step 4: Export and download
Press Export, then Generate. For a photo, the tool checks that every box reads back as solid black; for a PDF, it checks the marked text is gone. Press Download. The copy's name starts with maskyourdocs.com-, so you can tell it from the original.
Tip: write the purpose on the copy
A common precaution in India is to write the purpose and date across an ID copy, for example "For flat rental, Oct 2026 only", so it can't easily be reused. maskyourdocs only removes things and can't add text. After you've redacted the copy, add the note with your phone's photo editor or Markup. Adding text on top is fine; it's hiding text that needs a proper tool.
Questions
Can I share a masked PAN card for KYC?
Usually not. KYC needs your full PAN. Redact the copy only when the reader doesn't need the number itself.
What is the password for an e-PAN PDF?
Your date of birth as DDMMYYYY with no spaces, for example 07041992 for 7 April 1992. For a company or firm, it's the date of incorporation. The redacted copy you download has no password.
Do I need to hide the QR code on a PAN card?
Yes, if you are hiding anything else. The QR code encodes the card's details, and anyone can scan it.
Can I mask only part of my PAN number?
Yes. Draw a box over the first 6 characters and leave the last 4 visible, or search for the first 6 with Find text and press Mask all.