AO Codes for TAN - Complete Guide

Step 3: You will be redirected to a page with a list of cities. Select the appropriate city.

Step 4: All the available AO codes for the city you have selected will be displayed.

Step 5: Find the AO code that matches your ward, circle, range, district, and other details. So, if your name or the name of your entity is Mohan Traders, the tax you collect at source is less than ₹10 lakh, and you function in an urban district in Bangalore, your AO code will be KAR WT 182 1.

You can also download an excel sheet with all the AO codes and use the 'ctrl +F' function to search for your city's AO code.

Find AO Codes of Top Cities

Already Have a TAN? Check Your AO Code Online

If you already have a TAN number, you can follow these steps to check your AO Code:

Step 1: Visit official website Income tax Department

Step 2: Select 'Know Your TAN AO' from under the 'Quick Links' section.

Step 3: You can search using your name or your TAN number.

Step 4: Follow the required steps and you will be redirected to a page with your AO Code details.

Methods to Get Your TAN AO Code?

Apart from the online search on NSDL website, the excel sheet with AO Code details, and finding your AO Code on the Income Tax e-fling website, there is another way to get your TAN AO code.

If you are a first-time TAN applicant, there are two additional ways to get your AO Code. They are:

• Visit your local Income Tax Department.
• You can call the Aaykar Sampark Kendra on 0124 2438000.

Elements of a TAN AO Code

When you apply for a TAN number, you will be required to enter the AO Code which has four elements. They are:

Area Code: This identifies the geographic location of the company or the individual applicant. This code is represented by three letters of the alphabet. For instance, if your company is in Ahmedabad, the Area Code will be GUJ.

AO Type: The AO type is usually represented by two letters of the alphabet. 'WT' represents wards and 'CT' represents circles.

Range Code: The range code is a number which represents the actual circle or ward where the individual resides or the address or the company.

AO Number: This is a numerical value published by NSDL and forms the last part of the AO Code.

When you fill your TAN application online, there really isn't any need to know the AO Code by heart since you can just use the search tool on NSDL's website to automatically populate the details. That being said, it is always good to know such information. And hopefully, this article has helped you understand AO Codes for TAN.