How​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ to Block PAN Card If Lost? What You Should Do Immediately

It may cause the loss of your PAN card a lot of stress with this document being mainly associated with your taxes, bank accounts, and investments. You might ask yourself: "Is it possible to block a PAN card to avoid its misuse?" The good news is that even though there is no real "block PAN" option like with credit cards, you can certainly take some steps right away to protect yourself and then get a duplicate card. Here are ways of doing this in a straightforward manner.

Step 1: Report the Loss Immediately

When your PAN card is lost or stolen, you should:

Go to the local police station and report a Lost Article Report (LAR) or FIR concerning your PAN card. It is the way to officially document the loss and to safeguard yourself against any misuse that might happen later on.

Don't forget to make a copy of the FIR or the receipt for your records. It will probably be required when you will come to notice the duplicate of your card.

Step 2: Monitor for Misuse

As fraudsters may use your PAN to open accounts or get loans in your name, you should:

Regularly check your credit report from the credit bureaus such as TransUnion CIBIL or Equifax India in order to spot any suspicious activities as soon as possible.

Besides, you can notify the income tax department if you realize that a PAN card has been misused in your case by logging in to the e-filing portal and accessing the “Account Misuse” section.

These are your “soft block” steps—keeping watch while you arrange for next steps.

Step 3: Apply for a Duplicate PAN Card

Since PAN is a must for several financial errands, the very next move for you would be to submit another application for temporary relief:

• Go to the NSDL e-Gov Technologies or UTIITSL website to get started. Select the option “Re-print of PAN Card/Duplicate PAN Card”.
• Enter your PAN number (if you have it), Aadhaar number, date of birth, contact details and finish your transaction by making the payment.

You can choose to get an e-PAN (PDF) or a hard copy. It takes about 15-20 days to complete the process.

Step 4: Note What Blocking Really Means

Since PAN is not that kind of a thing that lets you “block” it, like a bank account, you have to rely on your safety measures - FIR, supervision, application for a duplicate - as your block. A duplicate is filed, keep your PAN number confidential, and then make sure to update any linked services (bank, investments) besides alerting your financial institutions.

Conclusion

What has been called the loss of your PAN is a serious matter but it can still be controlled. Main things to do: reporting the loss, sending out the word to be on guard, applying for a duplicate, and jointly treating your vigilance as a block. By taking these steps, you reduce the chances of being targeted and you still hold the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌reins.