Can PF withdrawals after resignations be rejected?

Yes. A PF withdrawal request can be rejected due to reasons such as incomplete details, mismatch in the details, multiple applications, or insufficient balance, among others.

Can I withdraw my entire PF amount after leaving my job?

Yes. You can withdraw your entire PF balance two months from the date of your resignation. However, it is important to keep in mind that such withdrawn balances may be subject to tax if the withdrawal is made before the expiration of five years of continuous service.

Is it compulsory to withdraw the accumulated PF amount after resigning from a job?

No. It is not compulsory to withdraw the accumulated PF amount after resignation. You can continue to keep the account active and earn interest on the balance until you decide to withdraw or transfer the account to a new employer.

Which form should be filed to withdraw the PF amount?

To withdraw your PF balance entirely, you must file EPF Form 19 online or offline with the concerned Employees’ Provident Fund Office (EPFO). On the other hand, if you only wish to withdraw your PF balance partially, you must file EPF Form 31 instead.

Can I transfer my PF account to a new employer instead of withdrawing the balance?

Yes. You can always choose to transfer your PF account to your new employer instead of withdrawing the balance after resigning from a job.

Can I withdraw my previous company’s PF without transferring the account to my new employer?

Yes. You can opt to withdraw the PF balance partially or entirely instead of transferring it over to your new employer.

Is there any age restriction in order to become a member of the EPF?

No, there are no minimum age limits to join the EPF. However, you may only contribute if you are earning (Working) and Have Registered with the EPFO.

What happens if I don't withdraw my PF after Resignation?

If you don't withdraw your PF after resignation, then it continues to earn interest and remains in your account until you either withdraw it or transfer it to your new employer.

What is the minimum time limit for PF withdrawal?

You can withdraw up to 75% immediately, but full PF settlement is only allowed after 12 months of unemployment

How to Withdraw PF Online After Leaving Job?

Many employees in India rely on their Provident Fund as a dependable source of savings and expect to use it to support them after retirement. However, in certain cases, they may choose to withdraw money from their PF to pay for personal expenses or emergencies when they stop working.

Knowing how to withdraw a PF amount online reduces the time and stress of submitting a request. This article covers how to withdraw funds from your PF account, eligibility criteria, and other important considerations before submitting your withdrawal request.

Key Takeaways

To withdraw your PF online, you must have linked your UAN and Aadhaar to a bank account.

You can withdraw a partial amount of up to 75% immediately after leaving your job if you remain unemployed.

Full PF withdrawal (final settlement) is allowed only after 12 months of continuous unemployment, and a 25% balance must remain until that period.

EPFO also plans to enable ATM & UPI-based PF withdrawals by March 2026.

PF Withdrawal Rules After Resignation

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the autonomous body responsible for administering the PF scheme in India, has laid out rules for PF withdrawals after resignation. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) governs PF under EPFO 3.0 reforms, merging 13 categories into simplified rules for faster access. Here is a quick overview of the rules:

Withdrawals after resignation are only allowed if you complete 75% withdrawal allowed right after job exit.

The remaining 25% (to complete 100% final settlement) is only available after 12 months of continuous unemployment.

Under the new rules, at least 25 % of your PF balance must remain in the account until final settlement, ensuring continued interest accrual for retirement.

Withdrawal from the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) now requires 36 months of unemployment, encouraging long-term pension security

If you join a new organisation within 12 months of resigning from your job, you cannot opt for full withdrawals and must instead transfer your PF account over to your new employer.

To withdraw your PF balance online, you must have linked your Aadhaar number and your bank account to your Universal Account Number (UAN).

The earlier 13 withdrawal provisions are now grouped into three broad categories: Essential Needs (e.g., illness, education), Housing Needs, and Special Circumstances.

Read More: Link Aadhaar With an EPF Account

New EPF 3.0 Withdrawal Rules

EPFO has announced plans to enable PF withdrawals via ATMs and UPI, eliminating lengthy forms and reducing settlement time.

Many claims can now be auto-approved once KYC is verified, reducing processing time.

The time duration for EPF to process claims has been reduced from 15 days to 8 working days.

Kiosk withdrawals from the EPF at designated locations will be available using the Aadhaar and OTP verification system.

Small claims will be automatically approved after KYC (Know Your Customer) verification.

DigiLocker now contains easy access to your PF balance, claim status, and withdrawal history.

Know More About: How to Check EPF Balance?

Procedure for PF Withdrawal After Resignation

Online Process:

Here is a step-by-step overview of the process you need to follow.

Step 1: Visit the EPFO’s unified portal for members.

Step 2: Log in to your account with your Universal Account Number (UAN) and password.

Step 3: A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter it to proceed.

Step 4: Under ‘Online Services’, click on ‘Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)’.

Step 5: You will be redirected to a new webpage, where you need to enter your bank account number. Once you have entered the details, click ‘Verify’ to proceed.

Step 6: Select ‘Yes’ and then click ‘Proceed to Online Claim’.

Step 7: Choose the type of withdrawal you wish to make under the ‘I want to apply for’ tab.

Step 8: Choose the ‘PF Advance’ form and enter the reason for withdrawal. You may be asked to submit copies of certain documents. In this case, attach high-quality scanned copies of the documents.

Step 9: Submit the application.

Once the withdrawal application is submitted online, it will be scrutinised and verified by the EPFO. After successful verification, your bank account will be credited with the PF amount within a few days.

Offline Process

Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar): Use when your Aadhaar and bank details are linked to your UAN; submit at an EPFO office without employer approval.

Composite Claim Form (Non-Aadhaar): Use when Aadhaar isn’t linked; employer verification is required.

Process to Enter the Exit Date for PF Withdrawal

Follow these easy steps to complete the Exit Date entry for the PF Withdrawal Process:

Select ‘Manage’, then select ‘Mark Exit’ from the drop-down menu.

Select your employer from the list of employers you have worked for.

Enter your date of birth, date of joining, and date of exit accurately from your documents.

Under the Service History tab, visit the ‘View’ section to see if you have received updates.

Read More About: Universal Account Number (UAN)

How to Check Your PF Withdrawal Status Online?

To check the PF withdrawal status online, first go to the EPFO website and navigate to the employee services section.

You would then need to select the option associated with knowing your claim status, which will take you to the claim tracking page.

After this, you'll click on a link that redirects you to your member passbook portal.

Once you log in with your UAN, password, and captcha image, you can instantly view your withdrawal status by selecting the "View Claim Status" button.

What are the Forms Uused for EPF Withdrawal?

EPF Form 31

EPF Form 31 is for emergency or urgent purposes where you want to withdraw money from your EPF and have access to a portion of your EPF account.

EPF Form 19

EPF Form 19 is for the final settlement of your EPF, usually at the time you stop working, even if you no longer have a UAN number.

EPF Form 10C

EPF Form 10C will only be used if you have terminated service and have completed 6 months to less than 10 years of service and wish to withdraw your EPS benefits.

PF Withdrawal After Resignation: Taxability

The tax treatment of PF withdrawal depends on your total continuous service period across employers.

If you withdraw PF before completing 5 continuous years of service, the employee contribution (claimed under Section 80C), employer contribution, and interest become taxable as income.

EPFO deducts TDS at 10% if the withdrawal exceeds ₹50,000 and PAN is provided; otherwise, higher rates may apply. You can submit Form 15G or Form 15H to avoid TDS if your total taxable income is below the basic exemption limit.

If you withdraw PF after completing 5 continuous years of service, the entire amount (principal and interest) is tax-free.

Exceptions where PF withdrawal remains tax-free even if service is less than 5 years include cases such as closure of the employer’s business or medical illness of the member or dependent family member, subject to EPFO conditions.

Conclusion

With this, you should now be aware of how to withdraw your PF amount after leaving a job and the conditions that must be met to proceed with the withdrawal. Now, it is important to keep in mind that, although withdrawal of your Provident Fund can help you meet your immediate fund requirements, it could potentially impact your long-term financial security. Unless absolutely necessary, it is often wise to transfer your PF to your new employer or keep it invested for retirement rather than use the balance to meet expenses.

How to Withdraw PF Online After Leaving a Job?