In this blogpost, Gareema Ahuja, a lawyer based out of Delhi and working at iPleaders writes on what steps to take to protect yourself and get new documents issues when you lose either your PAN card or Voter id card.

What to do when you lose your PAN card

Firstly do not panic if you have lost your pan card. It cannot be misused like your debit or credit card.

First lodge a complaint with the police.

Not reporting the loss of such documents puts you in big risk, so don’t forget to immediately report the loss to police.

Lodge a complaint online. Different cities have different websites. Bangalore : www.bcp.gov.in

Delhi: http://www.delhipolice.nic.in/register.html. once the complaint is lodged a lost report (LR.) number is generated which can be used for all future purposes.

Keep this report safe for the next few years. Keeping an online copy also works when you filed it online. If you filed complaint offline, take a receipt of the report and send yourself an email of a photograph you can click for future purposes.

How to get a new PAN reissued

If you remember your pan number and have a residence proof then it’s a few clicks. http://www.applypanonline.com/lost-pan-card-applicationform.php

In case you do not remember your pan number, don’t worry your pan number can be found.

Just click https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Services/KnowYourPanLink.html . Fill in the details. Once done with this fill the form available on  http://www.applypanonline.com/lost-pan-card-applicationform.php .

The documents required while filling the form are identity proof, address proof and date of birth proof.

List of documents that can be used as identity proof

1. Voters Identity card
2. Driving License
3. Passport
4. Certificate of Identity signed by a Gazetted officer in proscribed format only
5. Certificate of Identity signed by a MP in proscribed format only
6. Certificate of Identity signed by a MLA in proscribed format only
7. Certificate of Identity signed by a Municipal Councilor in proscribed format only
8. Ration Card with photograph
9. Central Government Health Scheme card
10. Arms license
11. Pensioner Card with photograph
12. Ex- servicemen Contributory Health Scheme Photo card
13. Photo identity card issued by central Govt/ State Govt or Public sector Undertakign
14. Brank certificate in original.

List of documents as address proof

1. Voters Identity card
2. Driving License
3. Passport
4. Bank account statement
5. Credit card statement
6. Landline telephone or broadband connection bill
7. Employer certificate
8. Electricity bill
9. Depository account statement
10. Certificate of address signed by a Gazetted officer in proscribed format only
11. Certificate of address signed by a MP in proscribed format only
12. Certificate of address signed by a MLA in proscribed format only
13. Certificate of address signed by a Municipal Councilor in proscribed format only
14. Water bill
15. Consumer gas connection card
16. Passport of spouse
17. Post office pass book
18. Domicile certificate issued by the Government
19. Property registration document
20. Latest property tax assessment order

 List of documents for proof as date of birth

1. Voters Identity card
2. Driving License
3. Passport
4. Birth certificate issued by Municipal Authority
5. Pension payment order
6. Marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of marriages
7. Matriculation certificate
8. Domicile certificate issued

Once the form is filled payment needs to be made. Payment can be made using credit card, debit card or Net banking.  After making the payment a fifteen digit unique acknowledgement number is provided using which the progress and delivery of the pan card can be checked.

Don’t get a new pan card, get the old one reissued

While it may be easier to simply get a new PAN issued, it is a very bad idea to do so. It Is a criminal offence under the Income Tax act if a person has two pan cards with different pan numbers on his name. Even if you lost one, and you get a new one issued, you will be caught under this provision and may face stringent punishments. You might receive a legal notice from the government. The penalty for this is Rs. 10,000. One must surrender the second pan card back to the government in case he has two.

What to do if you lost a voter ID card

If one has lost his voters ID to obtain a duplicate one is quite simple the first step is to file a complaint. Filling of complaint can be done online as well in some of the states http://www.delhipolice.nic.in/register.html.

If there is no online complain filing procedure you need to go to the local police station and file a report. Make sure to collect a receipt of the complaint/ report you file.

How to get a new voter id

Fill the form 002 available on the election commission website http://eci-citizenservices.nic.in/. Documents such as identity proof and address proof also needs to be attached. The form needs to be submitted with a fee if Rs. 25.  Once this is done a number shall be generated which can be used to track the voters identity card.

How long does it take to get a new Voter ID card

In 10-15 days the new voter ID card should be ready for you to collect it from the election commision regional office. The date can be checked online as to when the Voter Identity card shall be ready.

What can happen if you don’t report loss of your voter ID or PAN card

Firstly you won’t be able to get a new one if you do not report the lost of the older one.

Anyone who finds your Voters ID can misuse it for buying a Mobile sim card which can be further misused.  In case any illegal activities take place involving your voter’s identification card or your PAN card it may amount to police investigation. Therefore to be on the safer side it is always better to lodge a complaint. Now the procedure has been made simpler it can be done online as well.

So why take the risk of falling into trouble it is better to be on the safer side and file the complaint online or by visiting the police station.