Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) FAQs

What is the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)?

The Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) is a fund established by the Government of India where unclaimed dividends and shares are transferred after remaining unclaimed for a specific period.

What is an unpaid dividend?

A dividend that is not paid or claimed within 30 days from its declaration date is considered an unpaid dividend.

What happens to unpaid dividends initially?

When a dividend is not paid or claimed within 30 days from its declaration date, the company must transfer such amount to a special Unpaid Dividend Account in a scheduled bank within 7 days.

When will my unclaimed shares or dividends get transferred to IEPF?

Any amount in the Unpaid Dividend Account that remains unpaid or unclaimed for 7 years from the date of transfer must be transferred to IEPF. Additionally, all shares for which dividends have not been paid or claimed for 7 consecutive years or more are also transferred to IEPF.

If I have claimed dividends in any of the last 7 years, will my shares still be transferred to IEPF?

No. If the shareholder claims or receives a dividend for any year during the last 7 consecutive years, the shares will not be transferred to IEPF.

How do I claim my shares or dividends from IEPF?

To claim shares or dividends from IEPF follow these steps:

1. 1. Contact the Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA) to obtain an entitlement letter.
   2. Register on the MCA website. To watch an instructional video visit mca.gov.in/content/mca/global/en/about-us/video-gallery.html
   3. Fill out and submit the e-Form IEPF-5 online.
   4. Send physical documents to the company's Nodal Officer after online submission.

How do I fill out the IEPF-5 form?

To learn how to fill out the IEP-5 form, see the Instruction Kit for Form No. IEPF-5 (PDF).

How do I check if my form is correctly filled?

Click on Check Form after filling out the e-Form. The system will validate if all mandatory fields are filled and display any errors. Upon successful validation, you will see Form level pre-scrutiny is successful.

What if I need to make changes after validation?

Click on Modify and then on Check Form to make necessary changes.

Is there a fee for submitting the IEPF-5 form?

There is no fee, but when prompted for payment options, always select Pay Now (even though the fee is zero) to generate the necessary acknowledgement.

What documents need to be physically submitted after online filing?

After online submission, you must send the following to the company's nodal officer:

• Print out of the duly filled and signed IEPF-5 form.
• A copy of acknowledgement (Service Request Number) generated after online submission.
• Notarised original Indemnity Bond with your signature.
• Self-attested ID proof (Aadhaar for Indians; Passport/OCI/PIO for foreigners).
• Proof of entitlement (Letter from RTA, share certificate, etc.).
• Cancelled cheque leaf with your name printed on it.
• Self-attested copy of bank passbook.
• Self-attested copy of PAN Card.
• Self-attested copy of Client Master Report (CMR) of demat account.
• Notarised copy of Death certificate (if any joint holder is deceased)
  

How should I prepare the Indemnity Bond?

The Indemnity Bond requirements vary based on the claim amount:

• For claims ≥ ₹10,000 or share refunds: Execute on non-judicial stamp paper as per your state's stamp duty act.
• For dividend claims < ₹10,000: Execute on plain paper.
• Must be attested by a notary public.
• Must include date, place, and signature of claimant and witness.
  

Can I use the specimen formats provided for annexures?

No. Any annexure directly printed from the specimen format will be rejected. You must prepare your annexures using the formats as guides, including your personal details.

Where do I send the physical documents?

Please send all documents to the company's nodal officer (IEPF) at its registered office in an envelope marked Claim for refund from IEPF Authority.

How long does the claim process take?

The processing time varies depending on the company and IEPF Authority's verification. After the company's verification, the claim is forwarded to the IEPF Authority for final approval.

What if my claim is rejected?

If your claim is rejected, you will receive a communication stating why. You can address those issues and resubmit your claim.

Where can I get help if I have more questions?

You can contact:

• The Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA) of the company
• The Nodal Officer (IEPF) of the company
• MCA Helpdesk for technical issues related to form filling.