DIN of Numbers

‘One more number!’ wailed most of my clients as they reacted to the news of DIN number required by the Income Tax Office. ‘I already have a DIN number’, said one client who was a Director obviously referring to the ‘Directors Identification Number’ required under the Companies Act. Since all were either agitated with the extra number or confused whether the DIN number under other Acts can be the same for Income Tax, and since it was one hell of a DIN, I decided to visit the Income Tax Public relations office.

When my turn came after a long wait, I too started wailing like my clients, ‘We are still coming to grips with the PAN (Permanent Account Number) now needed for various transactions. In fact one of my client did not permit his son to get married (arranged marriage) until the girl had a valid PAN number. I not yet sure whether this is a requirement of the Registrar of Marriages or whether it was part of his strategy of Income Tax maneuvering! After this, we had a drill of child birth where the parent first took a birth certificate and before even going home to show anyone, the parent applied for a PAN number for the child. Only then does he rest and celebrate the birth of his offspring.

‘Roll number in school and college which changed every year was a mess itself for us’ I complained to the PRO. ‘Situations got out of hand when sometimes the professors went on strike after exams and we were promoted to the upper class, the later declared results were under our old roll number. Many joyous whoops at the notice board were replaced by sobs later. ‘Now what will happen if we receive refund under our PAN Number and immediately a demand notice due to scrutiny under DIN number?’ I asked this point blank. The PRO laughed and said, ‘You had this situation under PAN number itself and no extra DIN number is required to make such an anomaly’. ‘I guess not’ I admitted knowing that now things might get even complex.

‘Could you not have managed just with PAN number?’ I asked meekly. ‘Higher ups’ he replied pointing to the ceiling as if Delhi was on the upper floor. ‘We hired consultants like you and one of their suggestions was a number to locate your file fast.’ He tried to give me an inside story. So I gave him one of mine, ‘It is an open secret that given the right incentive, your peons can find files faster than the SEARCH option in windows!’ ‘Could you not just manage with the PAN number?’ I had to ask. His reply was well tutored reflecting a special seminar held for the IT PROs. ‘PAN number is also used for many other purposes as well as known to all. DIN Number is for internal consumption. So, one is external while the other is internal’ pat came the well rehearsed reply.

‘We are also expecting a citizen card and thus another number over there also’ I complained. ‘That is by the Home Ministry and not the Finance Department’ he shoved a bureaucratic reply up my nose. I then quoted a Sholay dialogue, ‘How many numbers, and ONE man? Not fair.’ ‘I also have membership number of the Institute, Flat Number, Address Pin code number, cell phone which is now in 10 digits….’ I just could not stop counting.

The PRO then said, ‘Why don’t you take a week to digest this reality and come next week on the 29th.’ Wow he calculated exact 7 days is what I wondered and on that evening closing time of office I realized that it was the day my wife annually celebrated her birthday. With all the numbers jostling for space in my head, I plump forgot her birthday which is a heinous crime for any husband to commit.