Quick answer: If you have lost or damaged your PAN card, do not apply for a new PAN. Download your e-PAN (free if your PAN was issued or changed in the last 30 days, otherwise ₹8.26) or order a reprint of the same card for ₹50 to an Indian address, from Protean or UTIITSL, whichever processed your PAN. If any details need to change, file a change or correction request instead of a plain reprint.
First rule: a “duplicate PAN” is a reprint, not a second PAN
People often say “duplicate PAN card” when they mean a fresh copy of their existing card. That is fine. What is not fine is applying for a brand-new PAN because the old card is lost. Nobody may hold more than one PAN, and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) notes a penalty of ₹10,000 for PAN-related defaults. If you already hold two PANs, tell your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer and have the extra one cancelled.
A reprinted card or e-PAN carries the same PAN as your original card, so your tax records, bank KYC and investments are unaffected.
Which option do you need?
| Your situation | What to do | Cost (including taxes) |
|---|---|---|
| You just need proof of PAN quickly | Download your e-PAN | Free within 30 days of the PAN being issued or changed, otherwise ₹8.26 |
| Card lost, stolen or damaged; details are correct | Order a reprint | ₹50 for an Indian address, ₹959 for a foreign address |
| Card lost and your name, date of birth, photo or address needs updating | File a change or correction request | Fee shown on the portal (address changes through Aadhaar e-KYC are free) |
| You got your PAN through Instant e-PAN | Download from the e-filing portal, or order a reprint from Protean or UTIITSL | Download is free; reprint ₹50 |
Fees are from the Protean and UTIITSL portals as of October 2026. Check the amount on the payment page before you pay.
Option 1: Download your e-PAN
An e-PAN is a digitally signed PDF of your PAN card. It carries the same PAN and is usually the quickest fix.
If your PAN was processed by Protean (formerly NSDL)
- Open the e-PAN download page on the Protean portal (onlineservices.proteantech.in).
- Enter your PAN, your Aadhaar number (for individuals), your acknowledgement number if asked, and your month and year of birth.
- Give consent for Aadhaar-based authentication and enter the captcha.
- The e-PAN is emailed to the address registered with your PAN.
Protean’s download is free up to three times if your PAN was allotted or changed in the last 30 days; after that it costs ₹8.26.
If your PAN was processed by UTIITSL
- Open “Download e-PAN” on pan.utiitsl.com.
- Enter your PAN and your month and year of birth (GSTIN is optional), plus the captcha.
- Verify with the OTP sent to the email ID in your PAN record.
- The e-PAN is sent to that email ID.
UTIITSL’s download is free within one month of your e-PAN last being issued, then ₹8.26 per request. If no email ID is on your PAN record, you first need a change request to add one.
If you got your PAN through Instant e-PAN
On incometax.gov.in, choose Instant e-PAN, then “Check Status / Download e-PAN”, and enter your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. If you are registered on the e-filing portal, you can also log in and download it from your dashboard.
Option 2: Order a reprint of your PAN card
Use the reprint service when your details are correct and you simply want a new physical card.
Reprint through Protean
- Open the “Reprint of PAN Card” page on the Protean portal. The service is for PAN holders whose latest application was processed by Protean, or who got their PAN through Instant e-PAN.
- Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number (mandatory for individuals) and full date of birth. GSTIN is optional.
- Consent to Aadhaar e-KYC and authenticate.
- Pay ₹50 for delivery in India or ₹959 for delivery abroad.
- The card is posted to the communication address in the Income Tax Department’s latest records.
Protean’s customer care number is 020-27218080, available from 7 am to 11 pm every day.
Reprint through UTIITSL
UTIITSL’s “Reprint PAN Card” service is for PANs that UTIITSL processed and dispatched, and for PANs obtained through Instant e-PAN. It is available only when nothing in your PAN data needs to change. The fee is ₹50 for an Indian address and ₹959 for a foreign address. UTIITSL’s helpdesk is 033-40802999, from 9 am to 8 pm every day.
If you are not sure which agency handled your PAN, check your old acknowledgement slip or the email that carried your e-PAN. Either agency’s helpline can also advise you.
Option 3: Change or correct your details and get a new card
If you have moved, changed your name, or spotted an error, a plain reprint will copy the old details. Instead, file a “change or correction in PAN data” request on the Protean or UTIITSL portal and attach proof of the change; our list of documents required for PAN applications shows which proofs are accepted. The card issued after the change carries the same PAN.
Both agencies offer a free Aadhaar e-KYC facility to update your address on PAN, according to PIB’s PAN 2.0 FAQs. Under the PAN 2.0 project, PIB says updates and corrections will become free once the new unified portal is running; until then, other corrections are paid.
If your card was stolen
- Order a reprint or download your e-PAN as above; do not apply for a new PAN.
- Consider reporting the theft to the police, especially if other documents were taken with it.
- Watch your Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS on the e-filing portal for transactions you do not recognise, and raise them with the Income Tax Department.
- Be cautious with calls or messages asking for OTPs or PAN details after a loss.
Avoid unofficial “apply now” sites
An earlier version of this article sent readers to a private agent’s website to apply for a duplicate card. We have removed that link. You do not need an agent: reprints and e-PAN downloads are available directly from Protean, UTIITSL and the e-filing portal for the fees shown above. Private sites often charge more and collect your Aadhaar and PAN details.
If you have forgotten your PAN number itself, see how to find your own PAN number. To follow a reprint or change request after you submit it, use our guide to checking your PAN application status.
Frequently asked questions
Is a duplicate PAN card the same as the original?
It carries the same PAN, name and date of birth as your current record. If your details have changed, file a change request so the new card shows the correct details.
How much does a PAN card reprint cost?
₹50 for delivery in India and ₹959 for delivery abroad, including taxes, through Protean or UTIITSL. Under PAN 2.0, PIB says a physical card will cost ₹50 in India.
Is e-PAN accepted instead of the physical card?
The e-PAN is an official, digitally signed copy of your PAN card with the same number. Whether a particular office accepts it is up to that office; if one insists on a physical card, order a reprint.
Can I apply for a new PAN if I lost the old one?
No. Holding more than one PAN is not allowed and can attract a ₹10,000 penalty. Always reprint or download your existing PAN.
This guide was checked in October 2026 against Protean’s reprint and e-PAN download pages, UTIITSL’s PAN portal, the Income Tax e-filing portal and PIB’s PAN 2.0 releases. Fees and eligibility can change, so confirm on the official portal before you pay.
