PF Withdrawal: Complete Online Guide
PF withdrawal means taking money out of your Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) account. There are three different situations, each with its own form: final settlement after you leave a job (Form 19), a partial withdrawal for a specific need while still employed (Form 31), and pension fund withdrawal (Form 10C). Picking the right form is the first and most important step — this guide explains all three.
What is PF withdrawal?
Every month, 12% of your basic salary plus dearness allowance goes into your EPF account, and your employer contributes a matching amount (split between EPF and the pension scheme). This money, plus yearly interest, builds up as your retirement savings. PF withdrawal is the process of taking some or all of this money out through an online claim on the EPFO member portal.
Unlike a bank account, you cannot withdraw PF freely at any time. The EPFO allows withdrawal only in defined situations — which is why the form you choose matters.
Which form do you need?
Form 19 — Final settlement
For withdrawing your entire PF balance after leaving a job. Allowed only after you have been unemployed for two months (60 days). Your employer must have marked your date of exit in EPFO records.
Form 31 — Partial withdrawal (advance)
For taking out part of your PF while still employed, for specified purposes: medical treatment, home purchase or construction, home loan repayment, higher education, or marriage. Limits and service conditions apply per purpose.
Form 10C — Pension withdrawal
For withdrawing your pension fund (EPS) amount or getting a scheme certificate. Relevant when you leave a job before completing the pensionable service period.
Eligibility
- Final settlement (Form 19): you have left the job, your employer has recorded the date of exit, and two months have passed since leaving.
- Partial withdrawal (Form 31): you are still employed; the purpose matches EPFO's allowed list; you meet the minimum service requirement for that purpose.
- All claims: your UAN must be activated, and your KYC — Aadhaar, PAN and bank account — must be seeded and verified. See our EPFO KYC guide.
Before you start — checklist
- Activated UAN — you can log in to the member portal (how to activate UAN).
- Verified KYC — Aadhaar linked and verified, PAN and bank account seeded. Claims are blocked without this.
- Correct bank account — the account where you want the money; it must match the seeded bank details.
- Mobile number — your registered mobile for OTP verification during the claim.
- Date of exit recorded — for final settlement, confirm your employer marked your exit date in EPFO records.
How to file the claim — overview
Log in to the member portal
Go to the official EPFO member portal (unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in) and log in with your UAN and password. Complete the OTP step.
Open Online Services → Claim
Select the claim type: the portal shows which forms (19, 31, 10C) you are eligible for based on your service record.
Verify your details
Check that your KYC, bank account and personal details shown on screen are correct. The money goes to the displayed bank account.
Submit and note the claim ID
Submit the form and save the claim ID. Use it to track your claim status.
After filing
EPFO's stated service standard is to settle complete claims within 20 days, though actual time varies with regional office workload. You can follow each stage on the claim status page. If the claim is rejected, the portal shows a reason — common causes are KYC mismatches, an unrecorded date of exit, or bank detail errors. Fix the issue and re-file.
Tax on PF withdrawal
As a general rule, PF withdrawn before completing 5 years of continuous service is taxable, while withdrawal after 5 years of continuous service is tax-free. "Continuous service" includes periods with previous employers if the balance was transferred (not withdrawn). Tax law changes from time to time — confirm the current position with a tax advisor or the Income Tax Department before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Form 19 for final settlement after leaving a job, Form 31 for a partial advance while employed, and Form 10C for the pension component.
Yes, as a partial withdrawal (Form 31) for specified purposes like medical needs, housing or education. Full settlement requires leaving the job and waiting two months.
EPFO mandates verified Aadhaar, PAN and bank details against your UAN before any online claim. Without verified KYC, the claim option stays disabled.
Generally yes if withdrawn before 5 years of continuous service; tax-free after 5 years. Confirm current tax rules before acting.
EPFO's stated standard is 20 days for a complete claim. Track your claim ID on the claim status page.