Introduction
You just filed your ITR. The confirmation email lands. You download the PDF — and boom — it asks for a password you never set. Or you try opening your e-Aadhaar and end up staring at a locked screen.
I have been there. And honestly, this happens to almost everyone. Government portals in India password-protect your documents for safety, but they never tell you the password upfront. Even people who are otherwise tech-savvy end up stuck.
Here is the exact password format for every major Indian document — ITR-V, Aadhaar, Form 26AS, bank statements, EPFO passbook, and more. Plus what to do if that password just will not work.
Why Government PDFs Come with a Lock
This is not a glitch. It is deliberate.
Documents like ITR-V carry your PAN, bank details, income, and address. If your email gets hacked or you download the file on a shared computer, the password lock keeps prying eyes out.
The smart part? Every department uses a formula based on your own details — PAN, name, date of birth — to set the password. So the password already exists. You just need to know the formula.
Password Formats for Every Major Document
1. ITR-V / ITR Acknowledgement PDF
Portal: Income Tax e-Filing (incometax.gov.in)
Password format: Your PAN in lowercase + Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY (no spaces, no special characters)
Example: PAN is ABCDE1234F, DOB is 15 August 1990 → Password: abcde1234f15081990
Also applies to:
- Section 143(1) intimation notice
- Any notice or order from the Income Tax Department
Most common mistake: Typing PAN in uppercase. It must be lowercase.
2. e-Aadhaar PDF
Portal: UIDAI (uidai.gov.in)
Password format: First 4 letters of your name (as printed on Aadhaar) in CAPITAL + Year of Birth (YYYY)
Examples:
- Name: SURESH KUMAR, Birth Year: 1990 →
SURE1990 - Name: SAI, Birth Year: 1995 →
SAI1995(full name if shorter than 4 letters) - Name: P. KUMAR, Birth Year: 1990 →
P.KU1990(the period counts as a character)
Note: Always 8 characters. Letters must be UPPERCASE. Lowercase will not work.
3. Form 26AS (Tax Credit Statement)
Portal: TRACES / Income Tax Portal
Password format: Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY
Example: DOB 15 August 1990 → 15081990
4. Annual Information Statement (AIS)
Portal: Income Tax Portal
Password format: Your PAN in UPPERCASE + Date of Birth in YYYYMMDD
Example: PAN is ABCDE1234F, DOB is 15 August 1990 → ABCDE1234F19900815
5. Bank Statement PDF
Portal: SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and most banks
Password format: First 4 letters of your name in UPPERCASE + Date of Birth in DDMM
Example: Name: Rajesh Sharma, DOB 15 August → RAJE1508
Note: Some banks use your registered mobile number instead. Check the email.
6. EPFO UAN Passbook
Portal: EPFO Portal
Password format: Your UAN number
Example: UAN 100234567890 → 100234567890
7. e-PAN Card
Portal: NSDL / UTIITSL
Password format: Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY
Example: DOB 15 August 1990 → 15081990
8. GST Return Confirmation
Portal: GST Portal
Password format: Your GSTIN
Example: GSTIN 27AAACS1234A1Z5 → 27AAACS1234A1Z5
Quick Reference Table
| Document | Password Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-V / ITR Notice | pan(lowercase) + DOB(DDMMYYYY) | abcde1234f15081990 |
| e-Aadhaar | First4Name(CAPS) + Year(YYYY) | SURE1990 |
| Form 26AS | DOB(DDMMYYYY) | 15081990 |
| AIS | PAN(UPPER) + DOB(YYYYMMDD) | ABCDE1234F19900815 |
| Bank Statement | First4Name(CAPS) + DOB(DDMM) | RAJE1508 |
| EPFO Passbook | UAN | 100234567890 |
| e-PAN | DOB(DDMMYYYY) | 15081990 |
| GST Confirmation | GSTIN | 27AAACS1234A1Z5 |
What To Do If the Password Does Not Work
1. Double-check the case. ITR needs lowercase PAN. Aadhaar needs UPPERCASE name.
2. Remove spaces and special characters. No spaces, dots (unless part of the format), slashes, or hyphens.
3. Verify your DOB format. Most use DDMMYYYY. AIS uses YYYYMMDD. Bank statements use DDMM.
4. Re-download the file. Sometimes the download gets corrupted.
5. Try a different PDF reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader is safest.
6. Clear browser cache. Old cached versions cause odd issues.
7. For Aadhaar — check the exact spelling. Your name on Aadhaar might differ from what you think.
How to Remove PDF Password Permanently
Method 1: Google Chrome (Free, Recommended)
- Open PDF in Chrome, enter password
- Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac)
- Select Save as PDF — the new copy has no password
Method 2: Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Open PDF, enter password
- Go to File → Properties → Security
- Set Security Method to No Security, save
Method 3: Print to PDF (Any Browser)
- Open unlocked PDF
- Print and choose Save as PDF
Warning: Never use online PDF unlockers for Aadhaar or ITR. You are uploading your most sensitive data to a random server. Stick to offline methods.
Still Stuck?
- For ITR: Log in to e-Filing portal → View Filed Returns → re-download. Helpdesk: 1800-180-1961.
- For Aadhaar: Visit uidai.gov.in, request a fresh OTP, download again.
- For Bank Statements: Call your bank. You may have missed a separate password SMS.
Key Takeaways
- Every government document uses a fixed password formula based on your own details
- ITR-V password = lowercase PAN + DOB in DDMMYYYY
- e-Aadhaar password = first 4 letters of name in CAPS + birth year
- Never use online PDF unlockers for sensitive documents
- Remove password permanently using Chrome’s Save as PDF
- Re-download from the official portal if stuck
Conclusion
Forgetting a PDF password is annoying but almost always fixable. Indian government departments use fixed formulas tied to your own details — PAN, name, date of birth — so the password is never truly lost. Bookmark this guide, save that reference table, and you will never be locked out of your own documents again.
This is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.
