TIN vs TAN vs VAT vs PAN vs DSC vs DIN – Key Differences

Starting a business set up requires much paperwork and digital documentation. You may already have a business enterprise and facing issues due to lack of documentation. Or you may be on your way to starting your business enterprise.
At Lendingkart, we help business setups to source the right kind of loan suited for them. To run your business free from legal and taxation issues and for smooth passage of loans, know here what all you need to apply for:
Tax Identification Number (TIN)
An entrepreneur or self-employed businessman or woman would require TIN while making goods purchases and sales. To apply for TIN, the proprietor would need to furnish the following documents:
- Identity proof of proprietor
- Address proof of proprietor
- Address proof of business
- PAN card of proprietor
Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN)
Business setups need to deduct several taxes at source. TAN is a ten-digit alphanumeric number which has to be quoted by the proprietor on TDS returns and payments and any communication on TDS with the income tax department. Not quoting TAN while filing TDS return with income tax department can be fined up to Rs 10,000. The proprietor also needs to furnish TAN at the bank and link it with a bank account where TDS payments are received. Without a TAN number, banks will not receive TDS payments into the proprietor’s business account.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
The VAT replaced sales tax in 2005, and 2017 VAT was replaced by Goods and Services Tax or GST. A VAT is an indirect tax that is charged on products and commodities by the suppliers of the product as they pass through the supply chain and acquire value. To do away with the cascading effect of tax and set up an integrated tax regime for the entire country, the central government introduced the GST tax regime in 2017. The new GST calculation software can be installed in the accounts system to calculate the tax amount payable and receivable on various goods, services, and commodities.
Permanent Account Number (PAN)
PAN is a unique ten-digit alphanumeric identification number issued to individual and group entities. There is the individual PAN and the business entity PAN. Any entity, whether individual or group, having financial transactions must have PAN. For setting up a business, the proprietor first needs to apply with individual PAN and after that apply for PAN for the business setup. In India, all bank accounts in the name of any entity have to be linked with PAN number of that entity.
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
Sign and seal on documents and correspondence is a regular feature of the business. DSC apart from being time-saving comprehensively stores pertinent information of the user in condensed code form. DSC code contains information of:
- User basic details – (Name, pin code, country, email contact)
- Date of issue of Certificate of Incorporation of entity
- Name of DSC certifying authority
DSC is a legal signature stamp and accepted as the legal signature of the entity. DSC is issued by certifying authority for one or two years and should be renewed within stipulated time limits.
Director Identification Number (DIN)
DIN is eight digits unique identification number allotted to existing or newly appointed directors of a company by the central government of India. Once issued DIN comes with a validity of lifetime and need not be renewed. User may update details as and when applicable. A director is allotted only singular DIN even if he or she is the director of more than one company. If the director leaves a company and joins another, the same DIN remains applicable, and only new details need to be updated. DIN is used whenever the director’s signature is required on any returns or communiqué issued by the company.
To Conclude…..
You may be a businessman or a novice entrepreneur. Whether you need a loan for business setup, working capital, MSME, or running women entrepreneur business, you can avail it all at LendingKart. The following table summarizes the documents you need to have in place for setting up your business or run it evenly. Digitization makes it possible for you to get these without hassles and applying for fast loans from LendingKart is just a few clicks away. You can avail up to Rs 2 crores business loan in just three days if you have the right documents with you.
Number/document |
Significance |
Tax Identification Number (TIN) |
Required for making goods purchases and sales. |
Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) |
Required for filling TDS collected. |
Value Added Tax (VAT) |
Indirect goods, services, and commodities tax now replaced by GST, different items have different taxes. |
Permanent Account Number (PAN) |
Unique identification number of individual or entity required to record financial transactions. |
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) |
Coded digitized signature for personal and official use, containing information of the user, COI issuance, and certifying authority. |
Unique lifetime number allotted to directors by the central government of India. Used in communiqués and returns issued by company directors. |