What Proofs Are Required for PF Withdrawal? Meaning and Complete Information

An EPF is an employee retirement plan. It is a statutory benefit available to retired or departing employees. Benefits are paid to dependents of deceased employees. Employers and employees are both required to contribute to the EPF Scheme.

Proofs of PF Withdrawal: Overview

To (Provident Fund) PF Withdrawal amount, you need to meet certain eligibility conditions and follow a specific procedure. Here’s an overview of both:

Eligibility Conditions for EPF Withdrawal

• Completion of 5 years of service: You can withdraw your entire PF corpus if you have completed 5 years of continuous service.
• Employee leaving service: You can withdraw the entire PF amount if you are leaving your current employment.
• Specific grounds: You can also withdraw a part of your PF corpus for specific reasons like medical emergency, education, marriage, or home loan repayment.

Documents Required for PF Withdrawal

• UAN (Universal Account Number): This is a 12-digit number that acts as your unique PF identity.
• Bank account details: Your bank account details linked with your UAN.
• PAN (Permanent Account Number): Your PAN card is mandatory for tax purposes.
• Aadhaar card: Linking your Aadhaar card with your UAN makes the withdrawal process faster.
• Cancelled cheque: A cancelled cheque with your bank account details is required for offline withdrawal.

Withdrawal of PF: Application and Documents Required

Employees who have made PF contributions may withdraw money from their accounts for a variety of reasons by submitting an application through the Unified Portal – https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/. This article examines the application and what are the documents required for pf withdrawal online.

Reasons for PF Withdrawal

Employees can seek an advance or withdrawal of the amount in their PF account. Possible grounds for requesting a PF advance or withdrawal include:

• Settlement of PF
• Benefits from Pension Withdrawal (only if the service is less than 10 years)
• Withdrawal of PF Part

Settlement of PF

An employee may file a PF settlement application for any of the following reasons:

• Member’s illness Contraction/Discontinuation of employer’s company
• Other factors beyond the member’s control
• Marriage (for female members)
• Permanent Relocation Abroad.

Withdrawal of the Entire PF

The funds in an EPF account are available for withdrawal in whole or in part. The following situations allow for full EPF withdrawal:

• At the time of retirement, an employee’s EPF balance can be totally withdrawn or
• When an individual is unemployed for more than two months, the EPF amount can be taken fully. To claim the full amount of EPF due to unemployment, the fact of unemployment must be certified by a gazetted authority.

PF Withdrawal in Part

Partial withdrawal of EPF funds is permitted only in certain circumstances and once certain conditions are met. The following are the circumstances and conditions:

• Marriage

If an individual marries, has a son or daughter, or has siblings, withdrawal of 50 percent of the employee’s EPF contribution is permitted only after seven years of employment.

• Education

Individuals may withdraw 50% of their EPF contributions for their own education or the education of their children. Furthermore, withdrawal is permitted only if the individual has served for at least 7 years, and withdrawal is permitted only for post-matriculation educational expenditures.

Estimate the maturity amount of your provident fund with our PF maturity calculator. Our EPF Interest calculator India provides the latest updates.

Purchase of Land or House Construction

The following conditions/restrictions apply to EPF withdrawals for the acquisition of land or the purchase/construction of a house:

• Five years of service should be completed
• The house/land requested to be purchased/built must be in the employee’s name, the employee’s husband’s name, or in the names of the employee and spouse
• In the case of land acquisition, the maximum authorised sum is 24 times monthly income, while the maximum allowable amount for home purchase/construction is 36 times monthly wages
• The property should be free of any disputes and legally registered, with documentation of such registration supplied
• Existing Home Loan Repayment is Restricted EPF withdrawal is permitted if it is required for repayment of an existing house loan and the following conditions are met
• The employee has completed ten years of service
• Only one withdrawal for house loan repayment is permitted in his lifetime
• If the employee has been permitted to withdraw EPF for the purchase/acquisition/construction of a home, he will not be permitted to withdraw EPF for home loan repayment. In other words, the employee can withdraw either for the purchase/construction of land/house or for the repayment of a home loan; withdrawal in both cases is not permitted
• The property must be in the employee’s name, the spouse’s name, or jointly in the employee’s and spouse’s names
• The maximum permissible withdrawal is 36 times the employee’s monthly income
• As proof, a house agreement, home loan sanction letter, and other necessary documents as requested by the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) office must be submitted
• Withdrawals are permitted from both the employee and employer contributions.

House Renovation

Only if the following conditions are met can an employee withdraw EPF for the purpose of house renovation, repair, or change.

• The employee should have completed a minimum of ten years of service
• Employees can only withdraw EPF for house restoration, repair, or change once in their lives
• The property must be in the name of the employee, the employee’s spouse, or jointly in the names of the employee and spouse.
• The residence requiring renovation, repair, or alteration must be at least five years old from the date of its completion. The maximum permissible withdrawal is 12 times the employee’s monthly pay
• Only the employee’s personal contribution is eligible for withdrawal.

Before Retirement

According to EPF laws, the retirement age is 58 years, and so EPF withdrawals of up to 90% of the cumulative amount, plus interest, are permitted at the age of 57 years. Simply put, once an employee reaches the age of 57, he is allowed to take 90% of his EPF contribution.

Medical Attention

Employees may withdraw their EPF funds for medical treatment. The requirements for withdrawal in the case of medical treatment are very liberal, as detailed below.

• Medical treatment for the employee, his spouse, parents, and children
• Withdrawal is permitted if you are hospitalised for more than one month for any reason
• In the event of a significant surgical procedure, withdrawal is also permitted
• if a person is afflicted with leprosy, mental illness, cancer, paralysis, tuberculosis, or heart disease, and their employer has allowed them leave for such treatment, they are eligible for unemployment benefits
• Withdrawal is permitted at any moment and there is no minimum number of years of service required
• Withdrawal is permitted for up to 6 months of the employee’s salary.

How To Withdraw PF Amount 

You can withdraw your PF amount online or offline

Online

1. Go to the EPFO website (https://www.epfindia.gov.in/) and log in using your UAN and password.
2. Click on the “Claims” tab and select “Composite Claim Form (online)”.
3. Fill in the required details and submit the form.
4. Your employer will verify the claim and approve it.
5. Once approved, the PF amount will be credited to your bank account within 3-5 working days.

Offline

1. Download the Composite Claim Form from the EPFO website.
2. Fill in the required details and get it attested by your employer.
3. Submit the form at your nearest EPFO office.
4. The EPFO office will verify the claim and approve it.
5. Once approved, the PF amount will be credited to your bank account within 3-5 working days.

EPF Withdrawal Limit

The EPF withdrawal limit depends on the reason for withdrawal and your employment status. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Full and Final Settlement

• If you have completed 5 years of service or are leaving your current employment, you can withdraw your entire PF corpus.

2. Partial Withdrawal

• Unemployment: Up to 75% of the PF corpus after 1 month of unemployment and the remaining 25% after 2 months.
• Medical Emergency: Up to 6 months of basic wages and dearness allowance or employee share with interest, whichever is less.
• Housing: Up to 90% of the corpus for down payment, EMIs, or construction of a house (after 5 years of service).
• Education: Up to 50% of the employee’s contribution for higher education (after 7 years of service).
• Marriage: Up to 3 months of basic wages and dearness allowance.

3. Special Cases

• You can withdraw the full corpus if you are 58 years old or above and have completed 10 years of service.
• You can also withdraw the full corpus if you are physically handicapped.

Benefits of Withdrawing EPF using EPF Withdrawal Form Online

Withdrawing your EPF online through the EPFO portal offers several benefits:

• Convenience: You can access the portal from anywhere with an internet connection, eliminating the need to visit an EPFO office.
• Speed: Online claims are processed faster than offline claims, usually within 3-5 working days.
• Accuracy: The online system guides you through the process, minimizing errors in your application.
• Paperless: You don’t need to print and submit physical documents, saving time and effort.
• Transparency: You can track the status of your claim online at any time.

Taxation on EPF Withdrawal

The tax deducted at source (TDS) on EPF withdrawal depends on several factors:

• Amount withdrawn: Higher withdrawals attract higher TDS.
• Reason for withdrawal: TDS is not applicable on full and final settlement if you have completed 5 years of service or are leaving your current employment. However, it may be applicable on partial withdrawals for reasons like medical emergency or housing.
• Investment period: If you haven’t completed 5 years of service, TDS will be deducted at a higher rate.

PF Customer Care Numbers

You can reach EPFO customer care through the following channels:

• Toll-free number: 1800-114067
• Email: epfo[at]epfindia.gov.in
• Website: https://www.epfindia.gov.in/

How to withdraw your EPF without UAN?

Withdrawing your EPF without a UAN is possible but involves a longer and more complex process. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Contact your employer: Obtain PF account details like account number, branch office address, and date of joining.
2. Download the relevant withdrawal form: Depending on your reason for withdrawal, use Form 19 (full withdrawal) or Form 31 (partial withdrawal).
3. Fill in the form: Include all required details like account number, reason for withdrawal, and bank account details.
4. Get the form attested: Get it signed and stamped by your employer and the current branch manager of your EPFO account.
5. Submit the form: Submit the completed form along with supporting documents (e.g., bank passbook, cancelled cheque) to the EPFO office.
6. Verification and processing: The EPFO office will verify your details and process your claim.
7. Claim payment: Once approved, the PF amount will be credited to your bank account within 3-5 working days.

Your employer must accept your withdrawal request before funds are removed from your EPF account and sent to your bank account. Make contact with the competent personnel at Vakilsearch to obtain additional information on the provident fund as well as any other relevant programmes.

FAQs on PF Withdrawal

What proofs are required for PF withdrawal?

The proofs required for PF withdrawal depend on whether you're doing it online or offline.
Online:
UAN (Universal Account Number)
Bank account details linked to UAN
PAN (Permanent Account Number)
Aadhaar card (optional, but speeds up processing)
Cancelled cheque (optional)
Offline:
Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar or Non-Aadhaar) with employer attestation (if Non-Aadhaar)
Two revenue stamps
Bank account statement
Identity proof (e.g., Aadhaar card, PAN card)
Address proof (e.g., voter ID, driving license)
Cancelled cheque with IFSC code and account number

What are the conditions for PF withdrawal?

You can withdraw your PF funds under various conditions, including:
Full and final settlement:
Completed 5 years of service or leaving current employment.
Partial withdrawal:
Medical emergency, education, marriage, housing (after specific years of service).
Special cases:
Age 58+ with 10 years of service, physical disability.

Can I withdraw my 100% PF amount?

Yes, you can withdraw your entire PF corpus for full and final settlement or leaving your current employment.

What documents are required for PF withdrawal for flat purchase?

For PF withdrawal for flat purchase (after 5 years of service), you'll need:
Composite Claim Form with employer attestation
Documents proving flat purchase (e.g., agreement of sale, allotment letter)
Bank account statement (optional)

Is a bank statement required for PF withdrawal?

A bank statement is not mandatory for online withdrawal, but it's recommended for offline withdrawal and verifying account details.

How many days does PF withdrawal take?

Online withdrawals usually take 3-5 working days after approval. Offline withdrawals may take longer due to manual processing.

Also Read,

• EPF Withdrawal Online Process
• How to know My PF Account Number by Name
• How to check PF Withdrawal Taxability