New Delhi, April 20 (PTI): An elector's photo identity card or Aadhaar will now be enough to obtain PAN cards, with the Centre relaxing cumbersome procedures requiring multiple documents.

Till now, the EPIC (voter card) and Aadhaar cards were only considered proof of identity and address, not age. The change was made through a notification by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, which oversees the income-tax department that issues PAN cards.

"The new notification means that, henceforth, having an EPIC or Aadhaar will be enough to obtain the PAN card. The two documents will be valid as proof of an individual's identity, address and date of birth.... The EPIC and Aadhaar are now unique and all-purpose identifiers," a tax official said.

The new notification also lists some other documents that will be accepted as age proof. These include a "photo identity card issued by the central government or state government or central public sector undertaking or state public sector undertaking or the central government health service scheme photo card or ex-servicemen contributory health scheme photo card".

"So, effectively now, there are a total of 12 identity documents which could be used to establish the date of birth of an individual applying for a PAN card compared to eight earlier. But for a common man, who is not in government service, only an EPIC or Aadhaar is required," the tax officer said.

He said the Centre was on a mission to bring the three unique identifiers - EPIC, Aadhaar and PAN - on one platform and link their databases. The aim is to thwart duplicity or forgery in any of the documents essential to get the benefits of central schemes.