PF Withdrawal - How To Withdraw PF Amount Online?

Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), also referred to as PF (Provident Fund), is a mandatory savings cum retirement scheme for employees of an eligible organisation. The employees can fall back on the corpus of this fund post-retirement. 

As per the EPF rules, the employees must contribute 12% of their basic pay every month to this fund. The employer contributes a matching amount to the employee’s PF account. The amount deposited in EPF accounts earns interest on an annual basis.        

Employees can withdraw the entire sum accumulated in their EPF once they retire. However, this article explains how one can make premature withdrawals from the EPF account after meeting certain conditions.       

PF Updates       
Starting FY 21-22, interest on employee’s contribution to an EPF account above Rs 2.5 lakh during the financial year is taxable in the hands of the employee. This interest is also subject to TDS under section 194A.

When Can You Withdraw EPF?

One may choose to withdraw EPF entirely or partially. 

Complete Withdrawal

EPF can be withdrawn entirely only under the following two circumstances:

• When an individual retires
• When an individual is unemployed for more than one month, he/she can withdraw 75% of the total accumulated amount and can withdraw the rest 25% if the unemployment period stretches beyond two months.

Individuals cannot make a complete withdrawal of EPF balance while switching employers if they don’t remain unemployed for two months or more (i.e. the interim period between changing jobs). 

Partial Withdrawal

Partial withdrawal of EPF balance can be made only under certain circumstances. They are explained in the table below.

Here, it would be relevant to mention that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation has allocated UAN, i.e. the Universal Account Number compulsory for all the employees covered under the PF Act. The UAN would be linked to the employee’s EPF account. The UAN remains portable throughout an employee’s lifetime, and there is no need to apply for EPF transfer at the time of changing jobs.

How To Withdraw PF Amount

Broadly, the withdrawal of EPF can be made either by submitting:

1. Physical application
2. Online application

Physical Application

Download the new Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar)/Composite Claim Form (non-Aadhaar) to withdraw the EPF balance.

Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar)

1. Use the Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar) if you have seeded your Aadhaar and bank details on the UAN portal and if your UAN is activated.
2. Fill and submit the form to the respective jurisdictional EPFO office without the attestation of the employer.

Composite Claim Form (Non-Aadhaar)

1. You can use the Composite Claim Form (Non-Aadhaar) if the Aadhaar and bank details are not seeded on the UAN portal.
2. Fill and submit the form with the employer’s attestation to the respective jurisdictional EPFO office.

One may also note that in case of partial withdrawal of EPF amount by an employee for various circumstances as discussed in the above table, very recently, the requirement to furnish various certificates has been alleviated, and the option of self-certification has been introduced for the EPF subscribers. (For details, you can refer to order dated 20.02.2017 of the EPFO)

Online Application

The EPFO has come up with an online withdrawal facility, which has made the entire process more comfortable and less time-consuming.

Prerequisites

To apply for the withdrawal of EPF online through the EPF portal, make sure that the following conditions are met:

1. The Universal Account Number (UAN) is activated, and the mobile number used for activating the UAN is in working condition.
2. The UAN is linked with your KYC, i.e. Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, and the IFSC code.

If the above conditions are met, there is no need for the previous employer to attest to your withdrawal application.

Steps to Apply For EPF Withdrawal Online on UAN Portal

Step 1: Visit the UAN portal.

Step 2: Log in with your UAN and password. Enter the captcha and click on the ‘Sign In’ button.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Manage’ tab and select ‘KYC’ to check whether your KYC details such as Aadhaar, PAN and bank details are verified or not.

Step 4: Once the KYC details are verified, go to the ‘Online Services’ tab and select the option ‘Claim (Form-31, 19 10C & 10D)’ from the drop-down menu.

Step 5: The following screen will display the member details, KYC details and other service details. Enter your bank account number and click on ‘Verify’.

Step 6: Click on ‘Yes’ to sign the certificate of the undertaking and then proceed.

Step 7: Now, click on ‘Proceed for Online Claim’.

Step 8: In the claim form, select the claim you require, i.e. full EPF settlement, EPF part withdrawal (loan/advance) or pension withdrawal, under the tab ‘I Want To Apply For’. If the member is not eligible for any of the services like PF withdrawal or pension withdrawal due to the service criteria, that option will not be shown in the drop-down menu.

Step 9: Then, select ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’ to withdraw your fund. Further, provide the purpose of such advance, the amount required and the employee’s address.

Step 10: Click on the certificate and submit your application. You may be asked to submit scanned documents for the purpose you have filled the form. 

EPF Withdrawal Taxability

EPF withdrawal is tax-free when an employee has contributed to the EPF account for five consecutive years. If there is a break in five years' contributions, the EPF withdrawal amount becomes taxable for that financial year. TDS is deducted if an employee withdraws EPF amount before five years when the amount is above Rs 50000. 

TDS of 10% will be deducted on EPF withdrawal for employees withdrawing more than Rs 50000 before completing five years and producing their PAN card. When such employees do produce their PAN cards, a TDS of 30% will be deducted from the amount withdrawn. However, no TDS will be deducted if the employee furnishes Form 15G/15H.

No TDS is deducted when an employee withdraws EPF amount after completion of 5 years of continued service.

Documents Required for EPF Withdrawal

The following documents are necessary to withdraw PF amount:

• Universal Account Number (UAN)
• Bank account information of the EPF subscriber
• Identity and address proof
• Cancelled cheque with IFSC code and account number

Process to Enter Exit Date for PF Withdrawal

The exit date should be mentioned for PF withdrawal. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a facility where employees can enter the date of exit from their previous employer in the Unified Member Portal. Previously, only the employer could enter the date of exit, but now even employees can enter the exit date.

Below is the process to enter the exit date:

• Log in to the UAN portal using the Unified Account Number and password.
• Click on the 'Manage' tab and click on the 'Mark Exit' option. 
• From the drop-down option, choose the employer.
• On the new page, enter the date of birth, joining date, and exit date. Mention the exit date as mentioned in the resignation or company leaving letter.

You can check the exit date by clicking on the 'Service History' option under the 'View' tab after logging into the UAN portal.

PF Customer Care Numbers

PF toll-free number – 14470

PF missed call number for getting to know EPF details –  9966044425

PF balance enquiry number – SMS “EPFOHO UAN” to 7738299899

PF email – employeefeedback@epfindia.gov.in      

Which are the forms used for EPF withdrawal?

EPF Form 19

You must use the EPF Form 19 to withdraw EPF funds for the final settlement. The EPF Form 19 is essentially a two-page form that contains the following sections.       

The first page of the form displays the member’s name, father or spouse’s name, Date of birth, name and address of the establishment, Date of joining and Date of leaving the company, PF Account Number and UAN, full postal address, PAN (Permanent Account Number), reason for leaving the organisation, mode of payment and the employer and employees signature.       

You will find the advance stamped receipt on the second page of the form. You must fill this section only if you select cheque as the payment mode.       

How to fill the EPF Form 19?

You can apply to withdraw or transfer the EPF corpus when you are quitting or changing your job. You can fill out the EPF Form 19 online or offline to remove your EPF amount.      

Steps for filling the EPF Form 19 online:       

1. You must visit the EPFO website and enter your UAN (Universal Account Number), password and captcha. 
2. You then click on the ‘Online Services Tab’ and choose the option “Claim (Form 31, Form 19, Form 10C and Form 10D)”.
3. Enter your bank account number linked with your PF account and click on ‘Verify’.
4. A ‘Certificate of Undertaking’ pop-up will appear, and you must select the ‘Yes’ option to proceed.
5. A drop-down menu will appear under the ‘I want to apply for’ option.
6.  You must choose the ‘Only PF Withdrawal (Form – 19)’ 
7.  The next screen opens a new section to enter your complete permanent address. 
8. Tick off the disclaimer after filling up your address and click on the ‘Get Aadhaar OTP.’ 
9. You must enter the OTP that you get on your registered mobile number, verify your Aadhaar and proceed to the next step. 
10. You receive a reference number on the successful submission of your application. 

Steps for filling the EPF Form 19 offline:       

You must download Form 19 from the EPFO portal and take a printout. You then fill up the PF account number, bank account number and IFSC code, PAN, joining and exit date of your employment, permanent address, mode of remittance, Rs one revenue stamp and a cancelled cheque to verify the bank account and submit it to the EPFO office.      

EPF Form 31

You can use Form 31 for a partial withdrawal or to avail of an advance from the EPF account. You can access Form 31 from the UAN portal. However, you need your bank account details, PAN, and Aadhaar details to be updated on the portal to apply for EPF advance.       

How to download EPF Form 31?

You can download Form 31 by visiting the EPFO portal or accessing the link.      

How to submit EPF Form 31 online?

1. You must visit the EPFO portal, log in using your UAN, password, and fill in the Captcha code.
2.  You then visit the ‘Online Services’ tab and select ‘Claim’ to generate your online request.
3.  After you click on ‘Claim’, a page appears with details such as your name, father’s name, DOB, Aadhaar Number, PAN, Date of joining the organisation and your mobile number. 
4. You then click on ‘Proceed for Online Claim’ after checking all the required details.
5. It would help if you chose the ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’ option from the drop-down menu.
6.  You then choose the reasons for taking the EPF advance and enter your current address and the amount.
7. You must sign the disclosure and check-box the ‘Get Aadhaar OTP.’
8.  You will have to enter the OTP, click on ‘Validate OTP’ and submit the ‘Claim Form’. 

What is Form 10C?

You have to fill and submit Form 10C online to withdraw or transfer your EPS (Employee Pension Scheme) Amount. You can download the form at the following link:      

How to Fill the Form 10C online? 

1. You must log on to the EPF portal and enter your UAN and password.
2. You then choose ‘Online Services’ from the menu bar.
3. You then pick the tab ‘Claim’, which contains Form 19, Form 31 and Form 10C.
4. You will be directed to the next page, where you will see the service history, KYC requirements and member details.
5. You then press the tab ‘Proceed Online Claim.’ 
6. You will be guided to the Claims Section, where you can check details such as PAN, mobile number, bank account number and UAN number.
7. You have to enter the last four digits of your bank account number and click ‘Verify’ to verify your details.
8.  You then click ‘Yes’ on the ‘Certificate of Undertaking.’
9.  You will then have to select the claim type as ‘Withdraw PF only’ or ‘Withdraw Pension Only.’
10. Navigate to the menu “I want to apply for” and pick “Only Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C).” 
11. You must enter your permanent address in the Form 10C Section and tick the disclaimer section.
12. Do click the tab ‘Get Aadhaar OTP.’ 
13. An OTP will be sent to your Aadhar-linked mobile number. You must enter this OTP and click on the ‘Validate OTP’ tab and then on the “Submit Claim Form”. 
14. After you successfully submit Form 10C, you will get SMS notification on your mobile number.
15. Your pension claim will be submitted with the filled up Form 10C, and the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) amount gets transferred to your savings bank account. 

How to Apply for Home Loan Based on EPF Accumulation?

You can borrow up to 36 times your last monthly contribution to purchase a home. If you are purchasing land, you can borrow up to 24 times your last monthly contribution. You must be in service for five consecutive years to avail of the loan.        

You can follow the procedure given below to apply for a home loan based on your EPF account balance:-

Apply for a home loan through the housing society and send the application to the EPF Commissioner in the format specified in Annexure 1. The EPF Commissioner will issue a certificate stating the monthly contribution to your EPF account over the last three months.        
Alternatively, you can take a printed copy of your EPF passbook to show the last three months’ contribution and submit it to the housing society to get an estimate of the loan amount you can get from the EPF balance.

You can follow the steps below to apply for a home loan through the UAN member portal:-

Step 1: Log in to the UAN Member e-Sewa portal.       
Step 2: Select the ‘Online Services’ tab and click on the ‘Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C)’ option.       
Step 3: Member details will be displayed. Enter your bank account number registered with EPF and click ‘Verify’.       
Step 4: Select ‘Yes’ to sign the certificate.        
Step 5: Select the ‘Proceed for Online Claim’ option and provide the reason for requesting an advance next to ‘I Want to Apply For’. The corresponding options will only be displayed if you are eligible from the years of service perspective.        
Step 6: Select ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’ to withdraw your funds as an advance or loan. Also, enter the amount you would like to avail of and the employee’s address.        
Step 7: Click on the certificate and apply. If prompted, you may be required to upload relevant documents.       
Step 8: EPFO processes your application. On approval, EPFO makes the payment to the housing society directly.

How to withdraw your EPF without UAN?      

You will have to fill the PF withdrawal form and submit it at the Regional Provident Fund Office. Moreover, you can easily check the jurisdiction of your PF office through the alpha-numeric Provident Fund Account Number which shows your state and location from your salary slip.       

You will have to follow the old process of PF withdrawal where you submit your identity attestation from a bank manager or magistrate or gazette officer.       

How to download Form 15G for EPF withdrawal?       
You can download Form 15G from the EPFO portal or the website of major banks.        

Form 15G to claim EPF amount without TDS:      

The new Form 15G has two parts. Part-1 of Form 15G has the name of the individual, PAN, Residential Status, Financial Year, Permanent Address and mobile number.      

You must include the estimated income for which the declaration is made (It includes employee and employer provident fund contributions and not the EPS contribution). The other section is filled by the institution paying the income.       

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it compulsory to furnish PAN by employees for EPF withdrawal?

No, it is not compulsory. However, it can considerably reduce the TDS charged on the withdrawn amount.

Are EPF contributions eligible for tax deductions? 

Yes, EPF contributions are tax-deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 

Can I increase my EPF contributions?

Yes, you can increase your EPF contributions and contribute up to 100% of your basic pay. Such contribution goes to Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) account.

Will the employer also contribute higher when I do?

No, the employer’s contribution will remain the bare minimum regardless of you opting for VPF.

Do I need the employer’s permission to withdraw the amount from EPF?

As per new amendments in the EPF norms, you can withdraw the EPF account without the employer’s permission.

Can I make premature withdrawals?

Yes, on meeting certain conditions, you can make premature withdrawals by producing documentary evidence.

What happens to my EPF account once I quit my job or switch jobs?

Once you quit the job or leave a company and join elsewhere, the EPF account will no longer receive monthly contributions. However, it does not mean that the account will become inactive.        
The new employer will create a new EPF account for you when you join another company under the same UAN. You can then request EPFO to merge the previous EPF account with the new one.       
In case you do not join a new employer, an additional grace period of three years will be provided for you from your last contribution to withdraw your EPF balance in full. If you fail to do so, your EPF account will be declared inactive. You may have to go through complex procedures to get access to this money.

Will EPFO continue to pay interest on your EPF Account after you leave the company?   

If you resign from your job before the age of 58 years your EPF account will be inoperative if you do not apply for EPF withdrawal within 36 months from the date you are eligible to make the application. After your EPF account becomes inoperative you won’t earn further interest on it.       

Suppose you have two EPF accounts, one related to the past employer and one with the current employer. How can you withdraw the maximum possible amount?

You can consolidate multiple EPF accounts into one account through your UAN (Universal Account Number). Moreover, whenever you change your job, you can see your EPF transactions at the same place. You will have to submit an application to the EPF Office to merge your EPF Accounts. After you merge your EPF accounts, you can follow the normal EPF Withdrawal process either online or offline.       

How long will it take for the EPF claim to be settled?

Your EPF claim may be settled within 20 days. 

I have completed five months in my current organisation. Can I withdraw my EPF money?

No, you cannot withdraw your EPF money unless you are unemployed. According to current EPF withdrawal rules, if you are unemployed for one month, you can withdraw 75% of your EPF Corpus. Moreover, the balance of 25% can be withdrawn if you are unemployed for more than two months.

Suppose your claim is rejected due to no contribution towards EPF. There is only EPF transfer money showing up in the EPF passbook. How can you withdraw the EPF Amount?

One of the common reasons why your claim gets rejected is because the Employer doesn’t make EPF contributions for 2-3 months. There isn’t much you could do about this except make sure your Employer regularly contributes towards your EPF. It will solve many problems later on. 

How much amount can I withdraw before one year of retirement?

Since the early retirement age is 55 years, you can withdraw up to 90% of the PF balance with interest when you have attained the 54 years, i.e. one year before retirement.

What is the retirement age to withdraw the entire EPF amount?

The retirement age to withdraw entire EPF amount is 55 years.  Although 90% of the EPF corpus can be withdrawn at the age of 54, one year before retirement. 

How can to withdraw the EPF amount of a deceased employee? 

The nominee of the PF account or the legal heir of the deceased employee can withdraw the PF account balance by submitting Form 20 to the PF office. They can withdraw the EPS or pension amount through Form 10D.

What are the requirements for PF withdrawal?

To apply for the EPF withdrawal, make sure that the following conditions are met:

• The Universal Account Number (UAN) is activated, and the mobile number used for activating the UAN is in working condition.
• The UAN is linked with your KYC, i.e. Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, and the IFSC code.

If the above conditions are met, there is no need for the previous employer to attest to your withdrawal application. 

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