Chalan

Chalan, often spelled challan, is a term widely used in the Indian subcontinent to refer to a formal document associated with payments, goods, or official actions. It functions as a receipt, bill, or instruction that records or authorizes a transaction, movement of goods, or a government payment.

In commerce, a delivery challan accompanies goods in transit and records items, quantities, and party details. It may accompany or precede an invoice and serves as a preliminary or supporting document for inventory and payment processes. A payment challan is used to record government, bank, or other dues payments, and a challan number is typically retained as proof of payment.

In governance and law, authorities issue challans as notices or fines for violations, commonly seen as traffic challans issued by police for infractions. For tax and public finance, challans are used to collect dues such as income tax or sales tax, with many jurisdictions offering online e-challan systems to facilitate payment and tracking.

Geographically, the term is prevalent in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal and appears across several languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Marathi, and Punjabi. The exact form, required information, and procedures associated with a challan vary by country, region, and context. See also: invoice, receipt, fine notice.